Educational conference tackles special needs across the GCC

The 4th International Child Development Conference aims to examine the latest thinking on this critical issue.

A leading scholar from The British University in Dubai, Dr. Eman Gaad, is to provide a keynote address - "Early Intervention's Role in Preparation for Educational Inclusion for Students with Special Needs" - based on the ground-breaking research, advocacy and practical work she has been involved with in the UAE.

In addition to the keynote address, Dr. Gaad is organising a two-hour workshop to discuss the need for early intervention to promote the social inclusion of children with learning difficulties.

"Dr. Gaad's ambition and vision have helped to make BUiD into a Centre for Excellence in supporting special educational needs. Her enthusiasm and extensive involvement in the community has really raised awareness of issues relating to special educational needs and it is fitting that she has been selected to present at this international contribution in Jeddah," said Dr. Abdullah M. Alshamsi, Vice Chancellor, British University in Dubai.

Early intervention is used to prepare pupils with disabilities for mainstream school, an international trend that is increasingly being adopted by Gulf States including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In the UAE, for example, Federal Law No 29 establishes a legal obligation that the education system provides a full range of support for children with special needs.

"We are working closely with the UAE Down Syndrome Association to help children with the condition to interact with others as an important part of their development. Steps like this help ensure that children with special needs have access to a full range of educational opportunities," said Dr. Gaad.

"This conference underlines the importance of this critical issue for educational establishments across the region, and I am delighted to have an opportunity to hear the insights of so many of my peers from across the Middle East," she added.

One of the challenges highlighted by the conference is the current regional shortage of specialist teacher training courses focusing in the area of special needs.

BUiD's Master of Education (MEd) programme, offered in association with the University of Birmingham, is one of the few courses in the region to offer the option of a specialist focus on special needs teaching.

The MEd intensive mode course was designed for students to attend just two weeks of classes per semester at BUiD campus during their summer holidays and winter break, before completing their remaining coursework and research papers in their own time.

This mode of programme delivery is designed to encourage teachers from the KSA, Qatar, and Oman to complete their studies at BUiD.