DECDC receives delegation from Kuwait's Society for Handicapped Parents

The Dubai Early Childhood Development Centre (DECDC), a key initiative of the Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA), recently welcomed a delegation from Kuwait's Society for Handicapped Parents to exchange experiences and knowledge. The delegation was received by Dr Bushra Al Mulla, Director of DECDC, who provided an overview on the range of specialized services provided to the disabled children and their parents by DECDC. 

Dr. Bushra explained the centre’s role in strengthening awareness about various children’s disabilities. The delegation was also briefed on the advanced equipment and systems available at DECDC, as well as the various aspects of early intervention and children’s rehabilitation measures. 

“The Dubai Early Childhood Development Center (DECDC) is a unique early intervention program that provides state-of-the-art, comprehensive, family-focused, community-based, trans-disciplinary services to children (from birth to 6 years) with special needs or at risk for developmental delays and their families. It is the first in the Middle East and the third in the world to provide such services.” said Dr Bushra Al Mulla, Director of DECDC 

"We welcome our partners from the Kuwait's Society for Handicapped Parents and look forward to working with them and sharing knowledge on best practices in providing support for children with disabilities, "  she added 

The Kuwait's Society for Handicapped Parents has invited DECDC to participate in Scientific Forum for the Gulf Disability Society (GDS), which will be held in Kuwait in April 2011. 

The Community Development Authority in Dubai launched DECDC in 2010 to complement its strategy of strengthening social development in an integrated manner in the Emirate and enhance its directions towards the social integration of children with disabilities in the community. DECDC’s uniqueness is manifested in its strong belief that services should be provided in the child’s natural environment; places where children interact with their peers every day, naturally occurring learning opportunities that promote and enhance behavioral and developmental skills – in the home, neighborhood, school, community, parks, and/or supermarkets. Not only does working in the natural environment help the child benefit more from the services but it also helps families embed the intervention techniques and strategies learned from the professionals in the child’s daily routine using items from their natural environment.