Sharjah Humanitarian City Charts the Adolescent Journey with Autism Guide
A new knowledge resource moves beyond childhood to explore the evolving needs of young people with autism, from identity and independence to working life, marking the eighth instalment of a pioneering awareness series.
Understanding autism has long been anchored in childhood, yet the lived experience of young people with autism extends far beyond those formative years. Adolescence brings its own distinct challenges: the physical, emotional and social transformations of the teenage years, questions of identity and self-esteem, the complexities of friendship and belonging, and the gradual transition toward independence and working life. Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services recognises this evolution, and has created a resource to help families, educators and communities support young people through this pivotal time.
The eighth edition of the organisation’s “60 Seconds” series, unveiled at the Sharjah International Book Fair, focuses specifically on adolescence and autism spectrum disorder. The series, which began in 2018, distils specialist knowledge into accessible cards accompanied by QR codes linking to practical video guidance. Each edition contains twenty or more cards, offering information that families, teachers and professionals can integrate into their everyday support of individuals with autism. This latest instalment traces the journey through the teenage years and into early adulthood, covering mental health and anxiety, burnout, questions of identity, the social landscape of friendship and bullying, and the neurodiversity that shapes individual experience. It then moves into the realm of working life, exploring workplace training, supported employment and the role of technology in fostering genuine independence.
The thread connecting these topics is purposeful: how skills learnt within education can be carried into community participation and the job market. As Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services has previously demonstrated through its broader work in awareness and inclusion, the organisation operates from a principle that people with autism possess distinct needs, evolving abilities and genuine ambitions that require continued support and opportunity throughout their lives.
Mona Abdulkarim Al Yafei, Director General of SCHS, spoke of knowledge as one of the most powerful tools for empowerment. The prevalence of autism globally underscores the urgency of this work: according to the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, autism occurs in roughly one in 31 people, whilst international figures suggest approximately one in 100. With these numbers and a rising trend, the conversation about autism, its support and its place in society touches every community.
The pavilion at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair extends beyond a display of publications to become a human, educational experience. It reflects a commitment to awareness, empowerment, and genuine respect for neurodiversity, grounded in the belief that people with autism deserve not only services and support but active participation in their communities and society.
The evolution of the “60 Seconds” series itself tells a story of deepening understanding. Previous editions have addressed motor therapy, speech and language, hearing and child development, communication in children with autism, and occupational therapy. In 2023, a new edition on motor therapy for children brought assessments and practical exercises for families, teachers and specialists. The sixth edition, focusing on early cognitive development, appeared in 2024, followed by a seventh on swallowing difficulties and drooling in 2025. Each addition has expanded the conversation around autism and disability, moving it beyond clinical frameworks into the lived reality of daily life.
What it means for Abu Dhabi
The work of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services contributes to a broader culture of inclusion and support across the Emirates, one that recognises neurodiversity as part of human difference and designs systems and services around genuine participation and independence. Knowledge resources like “60 Seconds” reduce barriers to understanding, equip families and communities with practical tools, and help ensure that people with autism are supported not in isolation but as active members of society with agency and voice.
Abu Dhabi, as part of the United Arab Emirates commitment to inclusion, benefits from this work in shared learning and community awareness. The Sharjah International Book Fair serves as a cultural crossroads where such vital conversations can flourish, connecting the region’s residents with knowledge and expertise that strengthens the fabric of care and belonging across all emirates.
Source: WAM