Mapping the National Policies and Services to Strengthen the Health and Education Systems for Children and Adults with Autism and Other Disabilities in Qatar

Track B: Early Research Career Track: This proposal has been developed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) and the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in line with their respective mandates, strategic priorities, and policy goals.The project is divided into two closely interrelated work packages: Work Package 1 will establish a national baseline for accessibility in higher education and provide a roadmap for inclusive practice, while Work Package 2 will map diagnostic and intervention services for autism and other developmental disabilities, contributing directly to the new National Autism Plan. Together, the findings will inform national policy and strategic planning, identify systemic barriers, service gaps, and opportunities, and support improved education pathways, stronger diagnostic and intervention systems, and more effective allocation of resources across public and private sectors. The project aligns with HBKU’s Progressive Education (inclusion and equity), Precision Health (diagnosis and treatment), and Social Progress (social inclusion) thematic areas, while making a direct contribution to HBKU’s Flagship Area on Autism: causes, diagnosis, and intervention. It will provide a robust foundation for national reforms that advance Qatar’s vision for inclusion, wellbeing, and social progress.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)