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Tribune News Network
Doha
THIS month not only marks World Teachers' Day, it also represents the first anniversary of Qatar Foundation's (QF's) Renad Academy, a pioneering education facility dedicated to children diagnosed with mild to moderate Autism Spectrum Disorder.
"Autism is one of the fastest growing developmental disorder in the world," said Professor Muhammad Waqar Azeem, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Sidra Medical and Research Center."The key to progress for children with autism is early intervention, creating a solid support structure for them to grow and parental involvement."
Sherri Miller, director of Renad Academy, said:"At Renad Academy, we are committed to helping prepare our students for adulthood, equipping them with the necessary confidence and skills for the future."
"It has been a very busy first year for us, and one in which we're happy to say we made significant steps to advance the understanding and awareness of autism across the wider community and in supporting the families of autistic children. Our students have made great progress, both academically and behaviorally, and are advancing considerably in their communication and social skills," said Miller.
Renad Academy, which comes under the umbrella of QF's Pre-University Education (PUE), is the first school of its kind in Qatar, and provides an optimum learning environment for children aged three to six years, where classes are delivered by specialised faculty and staff.
"We were delighted to be in a position to bring together such a diverse range of international autism specialists, including those from the World Innovation Summit for Health and local education service providers, for our own autism symposium," said Buthaina Ali al Nuaimi, president, PUE.
"The gathering, held in December 2016, proved a unique opportunity to bring the autistic services community together with the autism parents' network in Qatar to talk with each other and listen to outcomes of international studies."
During its inaugural year, Renad Academy also developed key working relationships with parents and families."We're very pleased with the progress made by our parent trainers. They help to make sure that families understand and learn about the different successful strategies for their children in the classroom," added Nuaimi.
