Dubai Autism Center unveils ADOS team

Notes and media contacts

About ADOS:
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is a standardized protocol created in 1989 for assessing social and communicative behavior associated with autism. The protocol consists of a series of structured and semi-structured tasks that involve social interaction between the examiner and the subject. The examiner observes the subject's behavior and assigns identified segments to predetermined observational categories. Categorized observations are subsequently combined to produce quantitative scores for analysis. Research-determined cut-offs identify the potential diagnosis of autism or related autism spectrum disorders, allowing a standardized assessment of autistic symptoms.

About the Dubai Autism Centre (DAC)
The Dubai Autism Centre (DAC) is a non-profit organization providing information, support, advice and training to professionals and parents of children with Autism. Founded in November 2001 with the issuance of a decree from H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the DAC is focused on providing various services for children with Autism and their families. The Centre also works toward facilitating a better community understanding of autism, including early diagnosis and treatment methodology.

The school is functioning at full capacity providing a holistic approach to 43 students of different nationalities. The Program includes academics and therapies - psychological, speech, occupational, music, Computer literacy and prevocational training - as well as medical care with a full time nurse and a part time doctor.

A team of clinical psychologists and therapists provides full assessment and diagnosis for children within the community. The assessment and diagnostic unit is vital because the right and accurate diagnoses provides the first step towards individualized rehabilitation programs.

DAC has initiated many awareness campaigns and launched many fundraising activities to meet its obligations.

DAC mission is to alleviate the suffering of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families through our educational (therapy's) programs and integrate them into the community through our community awareness projects.

About Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological developmental disorder. ASD usually affects the person's verbal and social communication skills. The incidence of Autism is increasing world wide with a 400% rise in the diagnosis of Autism in the last decade.

Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 146 births. The incidence of developing autism is higher in males with the ration of 4 boys to one girl.

Annie's Centre was launched in December 2004 by Founder and Director, Dr Anne Chalfant, Clinical Psychologist. Anne and her team of health professionals have extensive experience in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a range of childhood difficulties such as challenging behaviour and ADHD, learning difficulties, language disorders, fine and gross motor difficulties, anxiety and depression, Autism, Asperger's and related developmental difficulties.

For more information, please contact us through Tel: +971 4 398 6862