Three UAE special needs students attending the American School for the Deaf (ASD), a leading educational institution for deaf and hard of hearing students based in the US state of Connecticut, have returned home after successfully completing their first foundation year. Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) together with Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care (ZHO) oversee this scholarship in order to provide increased access to quality education for all students in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The foundation course is designed to prepare students to enter higher education in the US. The students were taught how to communicate in sign language in English, and were supported in developing their math and science skills. One of the three students received his high school diploma, and has been accepted into a US-based college where he will pursue his higher education. The other two students will be returning to ASD after the summer to continue their foundation course until they are prepared to enter university.
Mona Majed, Division Manager of the Guidance and Scholarship Division at ADEC, said: “ADEC’s 10-Year Strategic Plan highlights the importance of providing all students with access to individual learning programs, especially those with special education needs. We are proud of our students, their accomplishments, and their perseverance throughout this past year as they have been studying abroad.”
“We have partnered with American School for the Deaf because of their holistic communication philosophy which supports diverse communication styles and caters to the needs of individual students. The school administration has been supportive and understanding about the specific needs of our students,” she added.
ADEC and ZHO sent a delegation, including Ahmed Al Ghafli of ADEC and Ahmed Al Shamsi of ZHO, to visit the students earlier this year to ensure that students were comfortable and were receiving strong educational support. During the visit to the USA, The delegation met with the students to check on their learning progress, identify their needs, and provide them with all the support needed to continue their education. The delegation members also visited the school where they met with school management and were briefed on the overall progress of students since joining the school last August.
During the visit, ASD administration pointed out the significant achievements of the students over the past year. They also approved students returning to school after the period of Ramadan, which serves as an example of the school’s flexibility and level of cultural understanding.
H.E. Mariam Saif Al Qubaisi, Sector Head of Special Needs of ZHO said: “The partnership between ZHO and ADEC will ensure that our children with special needs have access to the facilities and resources to provide them with the best opportunities in relation to education, training and jobs.”
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