HOPE Qatar Centre for Special Needs has enhanced its sensory therapy for students who are in need of sensory stimulation and regulation.
The specially designed and customised sensory room facility was inaugurated by P N Baburajan, president of the Indian Cultural Centre, who is also a long-time member of ‘Friends of HOPE’. During his visit to the new premises of HOPE Qatar Centre for Special Needs, he interacted with the students and staff, and was introduced to the various programmes that are currently being offered by HOPE Qatar.
The new centre has the capacity to provide education and therapeutic support to one hundred students.
The multidisciplinary programme at HOPE Qatar has produced numerous batches of graduates who have completed their 10th and 12th grades through open schooling examinations.
Students aged between three and 28 receive academic and therapeutic support, as well as mild to moderately challenged children.
The centre also provides an assistive intervention programme for children and youth with more profound challenges in the afternoon.
A special programme for children in mainstream schools who require additional care for speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural therapy and physiotherapy are also carried out at the centre.
The near-school environment also ensures student involvement in regular organised activities such as sports day, annual cultural day, science exhibition and many others, a press statement notes.
The newly commissioned sensory room at HOPE Qatar will provide a therapeutic space with the help of various sensory equipment, lighting and music to help differently abled children with various sensory input that will help to calm them down and to focus themselves so that they can be better prepared for learning and for interacting with others in their classes.
Inaugurating the facility, Baburajan said he looked forward to the success of the impactful programme at HOPE Qatar that has been serving various communities in Qatar over the past 16 years, and wished them success in their mission which is aimed at enabling the best in differently abled children by providing them a caring atmosphere in which to thrive for their full potential.
Speaking during the inauguration, Dr Rajeev Thomas – founder and managing director of HOPE Qatar - said the new premises are custom-designed to provide educational, therapeutic and vocational training for children and youth with disabilities in Qatar.
He said the centre will soon focus on various vocational training activities that will seek to partner with like minded local companies to find suitable job opportunities for the youth with intellectual and physical challenges.
A dedicated Vocational Training Zone is being developed at the centre for this purpose.