Mounis Platform: Saudi Artificial Intelligence to Rehabilitate Children with Autism
In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's rapid progress in modern technologies and their application to serve humanity, the "Mounis" platform has emerged as an innovative solution aimed at improving the quality of life for children with autism. Athba Al-Shuaibi, a member of the platform's team, revealed details of this technological innovation, which integrates artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies to create a safe and effective rehabilitation environment.
A technology that simulates reality and breaks down barriers
The platform's core concept relies on using realistic simulations to gradually integrate children with autism into society. It acts as a "digital companion" that accompanies the child on their smart devices, creating virtual environments that mirror their real-life surroundings. This technology is highly flexible, allowing for adjustments to visual and auditory effects to suit each child's individual sensory abilities. This provides a safe space for experimentation and learning from mistakes without fear of social judgment or real-world risks, which significantly helps break down barriers of fear and develop social skills.
Bridging the gap between supply and demand
This innovation comes at a crucial time, responding to Ministry of Health statistics indicating a rise in autism rates, with one in every 100 children in the Kingdom affected. This significant increase has created a substantial gap between the growing demand for care services and the available supply in specialized centers, making the search for scalable technological solutions imperative to meet this challenge.
Economic solutions for remote areas
One of the most significant challenges addressed by the "Mounis" platform is the hardship faced by families in remote areas far from major cities. These areas often lack skills training , forcing families to endure the difficulties of travel and relocation. This is where the platform's role comes in, providing in-home training services and overcoming geographical barriers.
Al-Shuaibi emphasized that the economic aspect is a fundamental pillar of the project, as the platform is characterized by its very low cost compared to the exorbitant costs of traditional behavioral therapy sessions. This relieves families of a significant financial burden, while ensuring that the quality of training provided to develop the child's skills is not compromised.
A supportive tool, not a medical replacement
In clarifying the platform's scope, a member of the "Mounis" team explained that the application does not offer diagnostic or medical treatment services, but focuses exclusively on developing life and interactive skills. This approach makes the platform an effective support tool for empowering children to become self-reliant, relying on endearing child-friendly characters that encourage continuous interaction in both Arabic and English, thus transforming the rehabilitation process from a burdensome task into an enjoyable and entertaining experience.
Digitally empowering families
The application represents a qualitative leap in the concept of "parental empowerment" and their involvement in the therapeutic process. The system allows parents to monitor their children's development in real time via mobile phones and tablets, thus strengthening the family's role as a fundamental and pivotal partner in the journey of integrating a child with autism, and empowering them to understand their children's needs more deeply through the data and reports provided by the platform.
