Living with a neurological condition can be a daily struggle, as illnesses like autism can affect development and motor functions by hampering the functioning of the brain. Over the past few years, AI and medtech devices have been introduced for spotting the signs of such disorders early on, and robots are also being marketed to act as companions for autistic children, while teaching them essential life skills.
A woman in the UAE recently came up with her own app to assist people struggling with autism in their day to day life, after she learnt to tackle developmental issues while helping her son battle the same condition. Since authorities and residents in the Emirates are focusing more on neurological and mental disorders, a mall in Abu Dhabi has created a separate, sensory-controlled ecosystem for autistic people, which is described as a quiet room.
The space will provide an environment where people with the disorder can shut out the noise and crowd at a bustling mall, in order to avoid anxiety and other adverse effects of the chaos. To take this initiative a step further, the Yas mall in the Emirati capital will also have a quiet hour everyday from 11 to 12 PM, when brightness of the lights will be reduced, odours will be restricted and the background music will be muted, for people with autism.
A room for autistic people in the public space, is meant to create a bubble for a therapeutic experience, which is meant to alleviate anxiety and stress caused on their day out. The small but significant step is aimed at making public life more accomodating for people with neurological conditions, while also raising awareness about them in society.
Among other such projects by private entities, Google has rolled out a smart assistant which can provide help with mental health conditions in Arabic, for users in the Middle East. Smart tech is also being developed to spot symptoms of disorders like Alzheimer's in the region.