BHUBANESWAR: In what would be a boon for hundreds of children and adults suffering from autism in the State, a one-of-its kind Residential Centre for Autism is being planned to be set up in the Capital City.
The novel initiative is being undertaken by City-based Zain Foundation that came into being here on Thursday. The residential centre would strive to provide holistic care and services to children and adults having autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
It would have a speciality healthcare centre with necessary equipment and infrastructure along with trained medical and allied manpower. It would have sports and physical activity infrastructure, cognitive and vocational units for inmates.
Most importantly, it will be equipped with a Respite Centre to allow parents, attendants, educators and caregivers to relax while the inmates undergo their programmes.
The facility will also have grocery and consumer stores, amusement zones, farming and other avenues to provide an appropriate activity-encouraging setting for pupils with autism.
Zain Foundation has been set up by Zishan and Gargi Ali in memory of their son Zain Ali (15) who passed away in August last year. It was launched at a special ceremony at Pal Heights on the occasion of his 16th birthday.
Land for the project has been identified near Khurda, which is likely to go on ground. The Foundation will organise a series of events to raise capital for the proposed residential outfit with complete infrastructure.
The first fund-raiser would be presentation of critically acclaimed play ‘Kaifi aur Main’ featuring Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi in Bhubaneswar on July 26. The play based on the life and works of celebrated Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi, father of Shabana, will be staged at Rabindra Mandap.
A book ‘Understanding of Islam’ written by Zain’s grandfather and retired bureaucrat Rehan Ali was also released on the occasion.