To enlighten parents facing the challenge of raising an autistic child, the first international conference on autism will be held in Muscat on March 21, 2012. The conference is themed "Accepting Difference."

It is organized by the Language Center Social Committee in cooperation with the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Sultan Oaboos University (SQU).

Key topics to be discussed are centered on autism as a brain development discorder, which can come with some sort of intellectual disability.

Autistic persons have a hard time interacting socially. They're having a difficult time communicating verbally and nonverbally. The conference is geared towards improving the lives of children and adults who are autistic so they could have at least a better future.

This will be achieved by effecting decision makers and increasing public awareness.

The Executive Chairperson of the Conference, Anfal Wuhaibiya, said the aim of the conference is to emphasize the significance of this problem and to gain more ideas for the plan of establishing an effective Autism Center.

Anfal told observers autistic children must enroll in their schools. Autistic people have the rights to obtain their free education like any other disabled children receiving benefits from the government. He added that through this conference, they will be able to brainstorm ideas regarding shorter and longer-term strategies that will maximize the use of resources kept in Oman.

The conference is structured to educate parents and even professionals on how to handle autism. This will expose vital information that will help everyone understand the diagnostic criteria of this disorder as well as the need education and behavior management.

Anfal is also the chairman of the Language Center Social Committee, who managed to seek support from private companies. His team was successful in asking cooperation from the private sector in which one of the huge firms, Al Habib Group, confirmed positive on the event.