DOHA: The Special Education Training Center at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Rumailah Hospital is helping children with special needs gain intellectual and educational independence through comprehensive social, educational and rehabilitation programmes.
It supports rehabilitation of children and preparing them for partial or full enrolment in schools and specialist learning centres.
The programmes, which include special education, physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy and physical exercises, are giving children the ability to develop physical, mental and social skills and shape their personalities.
“The centre offers free educational and rehabilitation services to all children aged three to six years. We offer instructional services and training to families to master children’s development and skills advancement through lectures and meetings so that parents can follow up on their children’s training at home,” said Narjes Suleiman, Head, Special Education Department, Rumailah Hospital.
The department organises home visits for follow-up at parents’ request. To join the programmes, a child must be referred by a specialist doctor from Hamad General Hospital or a rehabilitation physician from the private sector or health centre; the child must be medically stable and able to benefit from the programmes.
“After registration, an appointment is set to assess the child by our specialists in accordance with their needs. “An educational plan is designed for the child with long- and short-term goals. This is done according to the family’s needs and aspirations,” said Suleiman.
“Children are prepared for preschool learning and to acquire comprehension, educational and rehabilitation skills.
Early intervention has been successful and many children have been reintegrated into society as they were able to interact and express themselves due to our intervention,” said Suleiman. She said after a child is six year-old, the department continues to track how they are doing at school or the special education centre. There are plans to inaugurate a special education unit at Al Wakra Hospital and provide a similar service at Al Khor Hospital.The Peninsula
