Advanced Intelligent Multidisciplinary Systems Lab (AIMS) of United International University received an innovation grant of Tk.23.5 lacs from Access to Information (A2I) program, Prime Minister's office to develop an autism screening application. The project, Autism Barta: A mobile interactive tools for automatic screening of autism will be developed in collaboration with Jatiya Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation (JPUF), Ministry of Social Welfare, IPNA, NDD Trust and other related organisations to make it effective for implementation in the future.
This automated screening tool will streamline referrals for autism assessment and intervention. Community health workers (or parents) will use Autism Barta to screen children for probable autism doubts. Once a child screens positive, Autism Barta will connect the family with autism resources (nearby assessment and intervention centers) for diagnosis and intervention. Autism Barta will create awareness and new marketable skills around autism in communities to enhance sustainability. Autism Barta also uses telecommunication networks to transfer data for referral, assessment and monitoring.
Dr Khondakar Abdullah Al Mamun, Director, AIMS Lab and Associate Professor, Department of CSE, United International University received the award from Kabir Bin Anwar, Director General (admin), PMO and project director, A2I program, on June 7, 2016. Nasreen Ara Surat Amin, Managing Director (Additional Secretary), Professor Dr. Mohammad Nurul Huda, Professor, Department of CSE, United International University, and other distinguished personalities were present in this award giving ceremony.