DESCRIPTION

Established in 2013, Child Development Center provides a network of internationally qualified and licensed professionals who offer child-centered and evidence-based early detection and intervention for children with developmental delays. 

Child Development Center offers diagnostic services, complete psychological evaluations, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, an Early Intervention Program class, social skills groups, and professional development training workshops. 

Child Development Center serve kids with Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD), PDD/NOS, ADHD/ADD, specific language impairments, processing disorders, learning disabilities and other developmental delays. Our therapists are highly qualified and are supervised by outstanding professionals.

Our Mission

Create a leading comprehensive multi-disciplinary therapy and support center in Qatar for children with mild to moderate special needs
Provide a network of internationally qualified and licensed professionals which offer child-centered and evidence-based early detection and intervention. We offer therapy and educational services in Arabic and English when available. Our program is offered at cost or subsidized for qualifying families.
Advocate and nurture support groups for parents and families in Qatar of children with special needs.
Serve as a model professional development and outreach center for Qatar and the region designed to serve parents, teachers, school administrators and specialists working with children with learning challenges

Services

Diagnostics/Psychological Assessments:

Based on the reason for referral and needs of the client, our Clinical Director will develop an individually tailored battery of tests that provide a high quality and comprehensive assessment. A full psychological evaluation typically includes an in-depth clinical interview in addition to tests of ability/intelligence, academic achievement tests, personality tests, behavior rating scales, and various scales assessing psychopathology. Information from this evaluation provides a broad view of psychological functioning, which consists of intellectual and academic strengths and weaknesses, personality patterns, and various psychological diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder.

Upon completion of testing, a complete psychological report is written where results of the evaluation are reported and explained. This in-depth report contains background information, test scores and interpretations, personality/behavioral functioning, and a summary with recommendations. 

For educational psychological reports, we administer the WIAT-II (UK), and Stanford Binet-5 in creating a comprehensive assessment for your child. 

ABA Therapy:

The Child Development Center offers intensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with developmental delays. ABA is  a science of human behavior whereby the therapists work towards measurable goals, collect data on children's responses, implement research-based interventions, and target socially significant behaviors. The skills the child needs to learn are broken down into very small steps and taught to the child using repetition and reinforcement.

The goal of our ABA program is to help each child reach his or her highest potential. Curriculum goals focus on the areas of communication, intellectual development, social skills, and self-help skills. We also focus on managing behavior difficulties your child may have.

Speech and Language Pathology

The Speech and Language Department is committed to helping children find their unique voices as they use language to think, learn, and develop social relationships. We provide consultations, comprehensive evaluations, and treatment for a variety of communication difficulties including but not limited to:

Receptive language

Expressive language

Phonological delays and disorders

Fluency and voice disorders

Pragmatics  / Social Skills

Play skills

We provide up to date, research-driven therapy by highly trained Speech-Language Therapists.  We work collaboratively with and provide resources to parents, teachers, and other team members to develop goals and treatment plans, and facilitate communication strategies.  Our goal is to provide solutions that allow children to reach their full potential in all areas of communication.

Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy department consists of a dynamic team of professionals whose focus is on thechild. Our goal is to assist children to achieve their maximal potential in all occupations of life including academic performance, personal management, and play; while facilitating independence in these areas, so that children can live meaningful and satisfying lives.

Occupational Therapy uses purposeful, meaningful activities with the “just right challenge” to address achild’s weaknesses through incorporating their strengths.

The following areas are addressed in Occupational Therapy Intervention: 

• Gross and Fine Motor Development 
• Visual Perceptual Development
• Sensory Integration 
• Oral Motor Skills
• Motor Planning Skills
• Personal Management Skills (Self care) 

A referral can be made to our department if a teacher, parent or caregiver notices any delayed developmental milestones, difficulties in age appropriate play or has any concerns about function in any area of the child’s life (school performance, personal management difficulties and play). Once the referral has been received the OT department will schedule an initial consultation with the parent andchild where after a decision will be made as to what the best course of treatment will be 

Early Intervention Program

Our program aims to assist children with autism and related disorders between the ages of 3-6 years. We aim to improve the quality of life for children with supported needs and their families by providing education, therapy and training in a structured and positive environment.
Our program employs a small group model, which means a maximum enrolment of 6 children per class. Each classroom is equipped with a lead teacher and three support teachers.
Our teaching methodology encompasses the principles of ABA in addition to speech and language approaches recommended by our in-house Speech Pathologists. Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy support will also be provided for children enrolled in our program based on each child’s individual needs. Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and visual schedules will be widely utilized tools as these provide children with the needed visual cues for behavior regulation and successful transitions.

Outreach

Comprehensive. Collaborative. Compassionate.
At the Child Development Center we work with the schools and parents of our students requiring learning enrichment to provide a fluid and comprehensive learning plan. We nurture relationships with all educational institutions ranging from nurseries to universities.
We are proud advocates of support groups of parents and families in Qatar of children with special needs. We are also a comprehensive service provider of counseling and cognitive behavior therapy for both adults and children, pending the approval of our license from the Supreme Council of Health.
The Outreach department focuses on raising public awareness and acceptance of children with special needs and increasing the focus on early detection and early intervention. In addition, the Outreach department provides professional development training for professionals in healthcare, nurseries, schools, as well as parents.We have experienced staff that can conduct tailored workshops on a variety of subjects including: early detection, mindful parenting, and managing behavior problems.