First activity of our organization (Vision Agency for International Development) VisionAID by: Prof. Dr. Mohammed Hussei Ahmed I am proud to announce the first activity of our organization (Vision Agency for International Development) VisionAID along with Heidi Kershaw the founder and CEO of (Global Autism Coalition) GAC in 2026. We were pleased to have Mr. Falah Mustafa, the head of department of NGOs in Kurdistan Region for our first virtual roundtable meeting with the participation of a diverse group of over 40 national and international stakeholders representing government, academic, NGOs, and private sector companies such as oil and gas, telecommunications, and others. The discussion focused on strengthening autism care in Iraq and Kurdistan Region by expanding higher education pathways, professional training, and workforce development, recognizing education as a cornerstone for long-term, sustainable impact. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has noted that “on the first human right, the right to dignity, as civilized nations, we are failing to protect the rights of people with autism.” In Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, global estimates indicate that approximately 1.3 million individuals are on the autism spectrum. Families across the country continue to face major challenges—most notably the shortage of trained specialists, limited post-secondary educational opportunities, and insufficient professional pathways for autistic adults. Addressing these gaps requires coordinated, systemic, and education-driven action. Through this partnership, GAC and VisionAID are working to remove structural barriers and to position higher education as a driver of inclusive, evidence-based autism care and meaningful employment pathways. This legacy work was not possible without the excellent works done by Heidi Kershaw . Here I need to thank all the people who helped and supported this initiative. The impact of what we are building today will be felt by generations to come. We look forward to engaging leaders, policymakers, institutions, and partners across the Middle East and beyond as we move this mission forward.