DUBAI // Parents of special- needs children say that challenges remain even if schools will accept them.
Rania has a seven-year-old autistic son who tried a mainstream school when he was four. After a year he had to change to a special needs centre because the school was unequipped to deal with his needs. Her child could not speak and the school told her “if he doesn’t talk, we cannot keep him”.
“It’s as if they’re telling you ‘if your child cannot talk, he doesn’t go to school’.”
Judith Velazquez’s six-year-old son with delayed speech attends a British school.
She said the main problem with integration was that schools did not hire teachers who were qualified in special education, either because of a shortage or a lack of funds. “They have inclusion programmes with no staff,” Ms Velazquez said.
Schools acknowledge that it is an issue.
Veena Raghwa, a student counsellor at Abu Dhabi Indian School, said it became costly for schools to invest in special-needs staff across all grade levels. There are only about 30 special-needs pupils out of more than 5,200 enrolled at Adis. “It is very difficult for a school to hire an occupational therapist, a speech therapist and a special needs educator for every level.”
Ghina Aboumichrek has a nine-year-old autistic son who attends Gems Wellington.
Although Ms Aboumichrek is happy with the school, she said high staff turnover in the UAE is a problem. “Teachers come and go, therapists come and go.”
newsdesk@thenational.ae