On Thursday, April 8, Our Lady of Peace Center, which is affiliated with the Latin Patriarchate in Jordan, organized a conference in cooperation with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Italy, via visual communication technology, titled, "Autism Spectrum Disorder".  A group of scholars participated in the conference to talk about the most important scientific achievements and treatment for autism spectrum disorder, especially with regards to speech therapy and rehabilitation.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa thanked those in charge of launching such an important initiative and referred to the circumstances caused by the pandemic that have shown inequality among people around the world, especially with regards to the human right to access health services.

He pointed out the importance of the conference stating that it will prompt taking necessary measures and raising awareness about people with disabilities, adding that it will encourage awareness in Jordan about new methods and patterns related to ways to enhance public awareness

Patriarch Pizzaballa expressed appreciation to Catholic University of the Sacred Heart for its support to the Latin Patriarchate through Our Lady of Peace Center--which was established in 2004 to provide free daily services in a cordial atmosphere for people with disabilities, regardless of their religious, social or financial background--hoping that this conference will open the door wide for initiatives and activities that will be beneficial to the Jordanian society.

President of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan Professor Franco Agnelli noted that the cooperation between Our Lady of Peace Center and the university will continue in compliance with the policy and identity of the university, which celebrates this year its 100th anniversary that has been marked with presenting a message of solidarity, commitment and international cooperation.

For his part, Director of the Center for International Solidarity(CeSI)  Prof. Marco Caselli pointed out that the CeSI was established in 2006 with the aim of coordinating all initiatives and programs launched by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan on the international cooperation level relevant to sustainable human development, such as promotion of citizenship rights, contribution of individuals in protecting our common home, and the pursuit of an ideal model for social progress inspired by the values ​​stated in the encyclical of Pope Paul VI on the development of peoples "Populorum Progressio" 1967.  

Director of the Our Lady of Peace Center Fr. Shawki Batarian, said that the conference addresses a topic of great importance which is attributed to the large number of people suffering from autism in Jordan and the world. He stressed that since the establishment of Our Lady of Peace  Center, it has provided free integrated and comprehensive rehabilitative and educational services designed to assist persons with disabilities with the aim of improving the quality of their daily lives, their integration, and their involvement in the local community and its institutions.

He said: "Our Lady of Peace Center is unique in Jordan and the Middle East as it provides high-quality services to Jordanians regardless of their religious, social and financial backgrounds, in addition to Syrian and Iraqi refugees in its main center in Amman, and its second branch in Aqaba, as well as at its external units in Zarqa, Mafraq and Anjara where all centers work jointly to maintain the sacred human dignity.