10985 children and more than 115 Entity They benefited from the screening and early detection program in Sharjah
The Early Intervention Center at Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) is the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates and the region. According to Her Excellency Mrs. Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, Director General of SCHS. The center premiered on November 26, 1994. It offers a variety of services to families, the community at large, and children with disabilities, developmental delays, or children at risk of developmental delays.
She said, “The center's main strategic goal is to provide exemplary early intervention services and programs for children with disabilities, children with developmental delays, or children at risk of disability and developmental delays from birth or the moment the condition is discovered until the age of five years through a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the newest and best equipment, applying the most recent and best global practices and modern strategies in the field. This is where the center gets its strategic goals from SCHS.”
She added, “Early detection of disability cases in children at risk of disability and those with developmental delays, supporting and boosting the effectiveness and confidence of the family and caregivers to provide the desired benefit for developing the abilities of children and enabling families to adopt constructive parenting patterns with their children, providing appropriate educational, psychological, and therapeutic intervention for children with disabilities, those at risk and developmentally delayed, and helping them to engage in society and adapt, improving and increasing the opportunities for children with disabilities to enroll in inclusive education programs and public schools (natural and less restrictive environments).”
Early Detection and Screening Program
SCHS's general manager explained that among the services in which the center has played a leading role in the Emirate of Sharjah and at the state level is the “Early Screening and Detection Program” starting from 2006 in line with what was stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2000, and in harmony with SCHS’s leadership and the desired goals of early intervention, starting from primary prevention, which seeks to reduce the causes of disability, to secondary prevention, which is represented in providing early intervention services, reaching the tertiary (future) prevention, which aims to reduce the exacerbation of the effects of delay in the future. The comprehensive early screening and detection service was provided, including developmental, visual, hearing examination, and examinations of body and posture and flat feet, which is the most comprehensive and the first of its kind in the region.
The Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services praised the specialists' commitment to providing appropriate and rapid interventions in educational, preventative, and therapeutic areas when needed, and guiding families towards suitable solutions. Since the program's inception, the team has identified a large group of children with various challenges, providing interventions and developing therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventative solutions in collaboration with their families, resulting in significant improvement.
A Qualified Team of Specialists
Mr. Mohamed Fawzy, Director of the Early Intervention Center, spoke about the early screening and detection program, "Check on Your Child" Initiative. He defined it as a rapid examination of various developmental areas, starting from motor development (including gross and fine motor skills), to communicative development (including receptiveness and expression), and reaching emotional, and social development, as well as adaptive development and problem-solving skills for children in early childhood (infants, toddlers, and preschool and kindergarten children), to help detect early disabilities, developmental problems, and signs of developmental delays through a qualified team that includes:
Social Worker, Psychologist, Audiologist, Visual Impairment Specialist, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist, and preparation of concise reports including recommendations.
He said, “One of the main objectives of the screening program, which covers all children from two months to sixty months of age, is to reduce the causes of disability through early detection and surveying a group of children to identify children who may have indicators that indicate the possibility of problems in various areas of development; early intervention by guiding families and those concerned in kindergartens and nurseries to appropriate solutions for intervention and reducing the exacerbation of problems; early intervention services to reduce the exacerbation of the effect of delay in the future; and raising family participation.”
Highly Efficient Survey Form
The screening program for children aged 4-6 has been in place in schools since 2006, according to the director of the early intervention center. A highly effective survey form was introduced in 2015 to cover the 2-60 month age period, and the program was expanded to include more age groups. Families were able to complete an electronic survey form on SCHS website since 2022.
10985 Children Benefited from the Program
and more than 115 Entity within the Emirate of Sharjah
Mr. Mohammed has confirmed that 10985 children and 115 entity within the Emirate of Sharjah benefited from the screening and early detection program, noting that among the most important practical steps undertaken by specialists within the program are communicating with community partners (nursery management, primary care provider), identifying needs, going to the screening location, starting the screening process, beginning the application and filling out the questionnaire, using the toolkit and approving the answer, providing the necessary support to the primary care provider during the filling out, including calming the family's fears, reminding them to read the important points on the first page, explaining the possible answers to the primary care provider, etc.
The Role of the Family in the Screening Program
Regarding the family's role in the screening program, Fawzi stated that this role is pivotal, fundamental, and essential, as the family is the primary source of information about the child and the first observer, and it is the environment in which the child's normal behavior is manifested. Family participation is not merely a procedural step, but a key element for the success of early detection and intervention.
The third iteration of the ASQ scale is employed, and the kid is evaluated by observation in their normal surroundings. It is the main instrument used in the process of developmental screening. Depending on the specific instance and age, the team may additionally employ further authorized procedures. Additionally, a device is used to evaluate children's visual ability. (Spot Vision), a hearing exam, body and posture assessments, and foot stretching with cutting-edge equipment.
Criteria that Determine A Child's Need for Early Intervention
The director of the Early Intervention Center stated, "Determining a child's need for early intervention depends on a set of scientific criteria used by health and educational authorities globally. The information available from the sources that appeared in the research confirms the importance of early detection and the role of the family and relevant authorities in supporting the child's development."
Key criteria for determining a child's need for early intervention include a clear developmental delay and the presence of risk factors. The presence of a medical diagnosis or the possibility of a developmental disorder, the results of a specialist assessment, observations or concerns of the family or caregivers.
The Importance of Early Detection in Inclusion from Early Childhood Stages
Fawzi concluded by saying,
“Early detection in the context of children's daily lives and the natural environment (whether in education or in society) is one of the most important factors that makes a real difference in a child's life.”
The idea is not just to know that there is a delay or a specific need, but to give the child a fair opportunity to grow, learn and interact in a timely manner. Early intervention greatly increases the chances of improvement, reduces the gap between the child and his peers, enhances his self-confidence and sense of belonging, supports and empowers the family, contributes to more accurate individualized educational planning, and reduces future challenges.