The number of Kazakh children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) could reach close to 60,000, according to experts at the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, which implements the Autism. One World for Everyone project. Autism centres are located in Aktobe, Almaty, Kyzylorda, Nur-Sultan, Petropavlovsk, Shymkent, Uralsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk and more than 8,000 children have participated in the support programme since 2015 to improve their quality of life. Approximately 7,200 youngsters are now registered and 3,700 have started the course. “Children just need more attention from specialists and parents. Autism is not a disease, but a special state of development of the child with gaps in communication, social interaction and behaviour. In most cases, these gaps need to be corrected,” said Asyl Miras Shymkent Centre head Sabina Umarova at the Nov. 18 meeting in the city.
Bolt taxi service’s top destinations in its two-month operation in Nur-Sultan include five shopping malls (Asia Park, Keruen, Keruen City, Khan Shatyr and Mega Silk Way), Nur Sultan-1 railway station, Narikbayev Kazakh State Law University and Astana Medical University, reported the company press service. Taxi service is popular among students, local residents and visitors who prefer to go on business and personal trips by rail and those who spend some of their free time in shopping centres. Approximately 90 percent of orders are made on weekdays, the majority between 7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. A slight increase is observed from 12 p.m.-2 p.m., a figure which decreases by the middle of the workweek, then steadily rises on Friday.
A digital inclusive laboratory to develop programming skills and creativity opened at Turan University in Almaty, reported Forbes.kz Nov. 22. The project is supported by the Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan, ASBIS and Kazakhstan Marketing Association. The courses, Everyone Can Code and Everyone Can Create, developed by the Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE) programme, are available for children, students and specialists in various fields. “Apple Digital Lab is a unique opportunity for students to create high-tech design projects starting from the landing page to interesting video clips. Students will not only learn how to communicate with the target audience, but they will also be able to create commercially significant projects,” said university senior teacher Elena Polukhina.
The Ministry of Culture and Sports is planning to create a single operator that implements a policy of providing physical education and sports sponsorships, reported Kazinform Nov. 21. “Its main mission will be to ensure the sustainable development of physical culture and sports. As an operator, it will be engaged in the distribution of extra budget funds for the development of physical education and sports. The operator will receive funds through sponsorship from Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund and other sources not prohibited by the legislation and aimed at implementing social projects for the development of physical culture and sports,” said Minister of Culture and Sports Aktoty Raimkulova at a Senate plenary meeting.
BBV presented its intelligent transport system project at the Astana Hub, an international park of IT start-ups. The company’s Intelligent Information Navigation Transport Network (IINTS) is an innovative project that develops and integrates Kazakh digital signage software. It manages the traffic flow in large cities, providing relevant information at the right time and place. The network is a digital media board managed with EYWA’s proprietary software. BBV received the best digital-signage solution award at the ISE 2018 exhibition of integration solutions in Amsterdam. The company has entered the top ten innovative companies and top ten best start-ups in the country.
