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As Dubai government authorities and those in the disabilities sector signal a shortfall in the numbers of qualified teachers and therapists, an autism training seminar is seeking to upskill professionals in the emirate.
The two-day seminar draws on the expertise of US experts, led by a professor from Ivy League school Brown University, to underpin the importance of developing social communication and emotional regulation in people with autism.
Dr Barry Prizant presented the audience of professionals, government employees and caregivers with aspects of the SCERTS model developed by himself and a team of three other specialists.
The model, designed in 2006, is in use around the world and has been adopted by educational authorities in the US and Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Prizant said the basis of the model, which stands for Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support, is to create a framework that directly addresses social communication and emotional regulation, which are the core challenges for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The SCERTS model emphasises the necessity of families to cooperate in the programme, as they are involved in the assessment and treatment of family members with autism.
Individual differences between each family and child are taken into account in treatment efforts, while the treatment model also seeks to integrate all the professionals from different disciplines.
The seminar, being held at the Saudi German Hospital and finishes today, comes as Dubai looks to transition itself into a disability-friendly city by 2020.
Dubai’s Community Development Authority Early Childhood Development Centre director Dr Busha Al Mulla told Khaleej Times there was a lack of qualified special needs teachers and therapists in Dubai, and most had to be brought in from outside.
In order to transform Dubai into a disability-friendly city, Dubai had to build its own capacity to train professionals here, she said. It was also important educational facilities for the disabled used accredited programmes in their training.
Mohammed Al Emadi, director general of Dubai Autism Centre which organised the two-day seminar, said it was important to have such programmes in order to provide practitioners with ongoing training opportunities.
“(It enhances) the level of performance for rehabilitation and treatment services offered to special needs students in general, and children with Autism in particular.”
He thanked the sponsors including Al Serkal Group, Emirates NBD, the Saudi German Hospital and JW Marriot Dubai, noting the support would benefit all those in attendance.-amanda@khaleejtimes.com
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