Dubai Early Child Development Centre

Since established in 2008, the Community Development Authority (CDA) has worked actively through various channels; to achieve the desired outcomes of the social sector that were identified by the National Agenda. With every milestone we achieve, our ambitions get higher and our aspirations to reach an ideal society get closer. A society allows the best level of social prosperity to each individual, and provides them with the civilization and evolution essentials.

The centre is considered a unique early intervention program and is the first of its kind in the Middle East to provide state-of-the-art comprehensive programs. Supervised by a specialized team, the centre provides family-focused, trans-disciplinary assessment and early intervention services to children (from birth to 6 years) with disabilities and those prone to congenital abnormalities. In addition to that, it provides families and community with the appropriate support and educational services required.

DECDC has implemented an Assessment, Evaluation and Programming System (AEPS), ensuring the best international practices and specialist training for its employees thus elevating the quality of services for its enrolled children and their surroundings.The objectives of DECDC are:

• Provide early intervention services at the appropriate time for children with disabilities and those prone to suffer from disabilities
• Enhance a child’s developmental gain.
• Enhance a child’s learning capabilities
• Develop the family’s understanding and capabilities related to their child’s development
• Elevate the standards of service provision in the field of early intervention
• Raise public awareness about people and children with disabilities

Upon contacting the centre, a Service coordinator will meet with the family and child, and conducts an initial assessment which consists of the following: an analysis about the psychosocial, health, developmental aspects, and evaluates the needs, concerns and resources of the family; and a developmental screening to get information about the strengths and needs of the child and his environment. This service is provided in child’s natural environment (home and school based) and in some cases on DECDC premises.

A team of therapists will conduct a comprehensive assessment that details the child’s skills profile (strengths and needs) across all developmental areas (fine motor, gross motor, self-care, communication/language, cognitive and social-emotional) that leads to the development of an Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) and/or an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). This service is provided in child’s natural environment (home and school based) and in some cases on DECDC premises.

Specialists will provide training sessions to the family. The purpose of these sessions is to provide the family with technical information related to the condition and care of their children. Also, family receives information regarding positive approaches to child rearing practices and how to handle difficult behaviour.

Our Team is our most valuable resource and the main reason behind our success. The dedicated professionals of DECDC are trained in the state of-the-art approach to early intervention and are here to help our families meet with the challenges that come with raising a child with special needs. DECDC is comprised of 2 groups of professionals making up its whole team.