Al Noor provides distance learning for students with disabilities

Dubai, UAE: Dubai’s Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities has extended its support to families by offering distance rehabilitation programmes during the current period of government mandated home learning.

With all schools closed in line with national efforts to ensure the safety of students in the UAE, Al Noor is utilising smart education technologies to ensure the continuity of classes, with the e-learning solutions allowing more than 200 students to carry out their studies from home.

As academic needs for students with disabilities are diverse, Al Noor conducts a yearly assessment to create an individualised education plan (IEP) to meet every student’s needs. Each student’s customised IEP covers various domains in the wider Al Noor curriculum and is designed for them to take steps towards independence and enhance their quality of life. With families self-isolating, Al Noor has created a distance rehabilitation programme that incorporates each student’s individual IEP and is tailored to their needs even while learning remotely.

The programme comprises hard copies of resources, including flashcards, worksheets, therapy programs and home task booklets, which are complemented by electronic resources, including digital presentations and worksheets, multi-subject video lessons and homework assignments on educational websites. Al Noor’s teachers and therapists are also conducting individual and group sessions on the online video platform Zoom.

Al Noor’s distance learning programme also provides advice and guidance for parents on how to use it effectively, with the Centre’s staff holding a dedicated training webinar for parents to optimise the remote learning scheme. In addition to the webinar, Al Noor also shared further resources for the parents, including online links, a list of IEP goal-matched apps to download, as well as video lessons and demonstrations of therapy and intervention techniques which guide parents on methodologies followed at the Centre.

Al Noor has also scheduled a wellness webinar hosted by the Centre’s senior clinical psychologist to provide much-needed emotional support and help guide parents during the stay at home period.

With Al Noor heavily reliant on goodwill support from corporate sponsors and benefactors to operate, the Centre currently provides education and development services to 200 students with physical and cognitive challenges such as Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism.

Al Noor is committed to supporting children of determination and their families, however the Centre needs the community’s help to sustain its services and continue supporting the development of its students. The Al Noor website – www.alnoorspneeds.ae – includes the latest news about the Centre, and information on how supporters can help keep Al Noor’s services going.

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For further information, please contact:

Petra Katusak/Ranin Hamdoun
petra.k@actionprgroup.com
+971 56 892 41 21

About Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities: 

Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities is a non-profit organisation which falls under the Ministry of Community Development Authority. Established in 1981, Al Noor has been providing high quality of professional training to the Determined Ones in Dubai for over 38 years. Starting with only eight children, the Centre has since expanded to facilitate and enrich the lives of up to 200 children and young people from different nationalities who have various physical and cognitive challenges such as Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism.

Al Noor moved to a new all-purpose facility in April 2007, which was generously donated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

Al Noor follows a holistic programme addressing all domains of development through a Trans-disciplinary assessment and intervention approach, all delivered to ISO-certified standard. In addition to teaching, the level of development is enhanced with Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Psychological services, Sports and Music. Al Noor also prides itself on an exceptionally effective work placement unit that trains its students with a capability for open employment, integrating them into mainstream society post education.

A particular star of the Al Noor’s fundraising achievements is the Center’s very own Smiles ‘n’ Stuff, a branded retail outlet, where all the products are handcrafted by children and young people with disabilities enrolled at Al Noor, which helps raise awareness and funds. The goal of Al Noor’s vocational training unit is to make children skilled and productive members of the community and training is offered in wood design technology, printing technology, fashion technology and bakery. 

© Press Release 2020