Thursday in Dubai: Early intervent center and Inspire Children's Nursery

Today is our last day in Dubai.  I am a little sad because there is still so much more that I would like to see and do here in this amazing international city.  But I am also excited to see Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Early intervention center (DECDC)

Yesterday (Thursday), we visited two centers that serve children with disabilities.  In the morning we visited Dr. Hussein's early intervention center, called the Dubai Early Childhood Development Center (DECDC).  DECDC is the first early intervention program in Dubai to offer comprehensive, interdisciplinary diagnosis, assessment and services for children from birth to six years. We saw no children on site that day because most of the services are provided in the natural environment -- in their home, school, day care or wherever they may be.  The services are also family-centered, meaning the families are involved in decision-making and are included in the treatment plan.

Students touring the early intervention center

We were able to meet and talk to the multi-disciplinary staff and take a tour of the areas where staff greet and counsel the families, provide assessments, and interventions.  The Center is very new, bright, clean, with stimulating books, wall art and state of the art equipment.

Dr. McCormick gave a brief presentation to our students and their staff on the latest research finding on infant/child neurological and social development, and best practices in interdisciplinary approach to serving children.  Before we left, Dr. Hussain presented Michael with a beautiful award for his part in helping to initiate the Center in Dubai.  AUCD (and our executive director, George Jesien specifically) was also recognized for its part in consulting with the government agency team to begin the early intevention program.


Following the visit to the DECDC, we went directly to our next site visit: The brand new Inspire Children's Nursery.  After touring the facility and listening to the two founders explain their origins and mission, I agreed that Inspire is an apt name for the Center for they are truly inspiring professionals: Asma Aladwala and Dr. Sandra Willis.

They gave the background regarding how they came to recognize the need for early childhood services in Dubai; how they first worked with the government to develop a plan, but then got frustrated by the pace and bureaucracy of working with the government and set out on their own the develop a state of the art, inclusive, family-centered early childhood learning center for all children, all nationalities, and all disabilities.  They open their doors this Sunday!

Asma and Sandra with Michael in the kitchen

The Center itself is in a beautiful home retrofitted to be a childhood learning center.  It has large, brightly decorated school rooms filled with interesting state of the art learning toys, a finished basement turned into a tykes' mini soccer field, an outdoor playgroun and a small indoor pool in an ajoining building.  If I were a parent of a toddler in Dubai, I would jump at the opportunity to send my child there!

Asma and Sandra briefing the students

Dr. McCormick was again invited to briefly address the staff regarding child development research and best practices in early childhood education.  The Inspire staff also recognized Michael and AUCD for its consultative role in developing the concept of the school, which is unique to Dubai in its approach.
According to the website, their approach to the Center is based on the U.S. Creative Curriculum and the Italian Regio Emilia  (see their approach: http://www.inspireallchildren.com/the-approach.php ). 

After our site visits, and thanks to Kara, we were able to tour the Burj Al Arab Hotel, the second tallest building in the world used exclusively as a hotel. The Burj Al Arab actually stands on an artificial island shaped like a palm tree out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a boat.

Later that evening Michael, Laura, and I were honored to have dinner with Dr. Hussain, Sandra, and Asma at a lovely Lebanese restaurant over looking a beach in Jumeirah.