- The centre is the first of its kind in the Middle East region
In line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 to strengthen social services in the Emirate, the Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai marked the official launch of the Dubai Early Childhood Development Centre (DECDC), a first of its kind initiative in the Middle East region. This Centre is part of CDA’s commitment to provide a healthy social environment for children and make them participants in the wide spectrum of social activities outlined by CDA.
The Dubai Early Childhood Development Center (DECDC), is a unique early intervention program, to provide state-of-the-art, comprehensive, family-focused, community-based, transdisciplinary services to children (from birth to 6 years) with special needs or at risk for developmental delays and their families. DECDC came about after a long and extensive benchmarking exercise of best practice early intervention programs across the world in addition to literature review and research activities in the field of early intervention and special needs.
“The launch of Dubai Early Childhood Development Centre complements our strategy to strengthen social development in an integrated manner in the Emirate. We plan to launch similar initiatives in the future to provide high quality services by applying best practices based on scientific grounds to achieve the maximum results and benefits,†said His Excellency Mr Khaled Al Kamda, Director General, CDA.
Sheikh Maktoum Butti Al Maktoum, CEO – Social Care, said: “The DECDC enhances the directions of CDA towards the social integration of children with disabilities in the community, so that all can enjoy security and social welfare through a comprehensive social protection system. We will continue to focus on developing advanced and intensive programmes in the centre to achieve this goal.â€
The services provided by Dubai Early Childhood Development Centre include initial and programmatic assessment, and diagnostic assessment to insure early intervention. The centre also provides service coordination, parent and community training sessions, counselling and consultancy in addition to community screening, which is the first of its kind in the UAE.
A team of high qualified professionals will provide services in the field of speech and language therapy, physical, occupational and psychology therapies. Scientific studies have shown that with every one dirham spent on early intervention the government will save seven dirhams at the long run.
