The Strategic Projects Department at the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine is implementing the Imam Hussain Center for Autistic Children project in Maysan Governorate.

Engineer Ali Abdul-Mahdi of the Strategic Projects Department said the project is designed to provide specialized educational, recreational, and medical services for children with autism spectrum disorders.

The center is being constructed on a 3,375-square-meter site in accordance with high technical specifications, with a total built-up area exceeding 5,000 square meters.

The facility consists of a multi-story main building divided into three interconnected sections separated by expansion joints. The first section comprises a ground floor and two upper floors, while the second and third sections each consist of a ground floor and three upper floors.

The center will include speech and physical therapy rooms, an imaginative play area known as a “fantasy city,” art studios, and spaces for activities such as drawing and sensory-development games.

The facility will also feature classrooms, an administrative wing, offices and rooms for doctors, teachers, and supervisors, as well as storage areas.

According to the department, the project has been designed in accordance with international standards for facilities serving children with autism. These standards include considerations for spatial dimensions, color schemes, finishing materials, safety and surveillance systems, and comfort features such as modern elevators and high-quality air-conditioning systems.

The overall completion rate currently stands at 44 percent. The structural framework has been completed, while work is continuing on the remaining stages of construction and finishing.

Riyadh Al-Asadi