SCHS continues to educate and empower its students with disabilities "remotely".
Through an integrated distance education system that blends academic quality with all-encompassing care, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) continues to play a pioneering role in guaranteeing the continuation of education for its students with disabilities in a variety of settings.
SCHS has offered 6553 services to its students in all of its departments and branches from the start of distant learning. Family counseling, group and individual sessions, speech and language therapy, music therapy, educational workshops, and in-kind assistance within comprehensive care programs were among the services offered.
Simultaneously, SCHS received 50 beneficiaries to provide direct services in compliance with approved procedures and measures, and during the same time period, it performed 25 diagnostic hearing tests to support early assessment processes and improve quality of life. This demonstrated that the efforts were not limited to remote services.
According to Her Excellency Mrs. Mona Abdul Karim Al-Yafei, Director General of SCHS, these initiatives demonstrate SCHS's dedication to its humanitarian and developmental approach, which is founded on offering services that are sustainable and unaffected by external factors, making sure that the educational process is not disrupted, and strengthening the right of students with disabilities to receive high-quality education that complies with international best practices.
Advanced Strategic Vision
She added, “SCHS relies on an advanced strategic vision that integrates education, rehabilitation and empowerment, as its services are not limited to providing curricula only, but extend to include an integrated system of therapeutic, rehabilitative and psychological programs, all of which are provided within an interactive digital environment carefully designed to meet the needs of different disability categories.”
Al-Yafai explained that investing in distance education is no longer a circumstantial option, but has become an essential part of the institutional work system, especially in light of the current challenges that require high flexibility and a rapid response to ensure the continuity of services, as SCHS is working on developing innovative educational models that place the student at the center of the educational process and give him the necessary tools for learning and independence.
The educational model is based on the use of modern educational platforms that allow direct interaction between students and teachers, in addition to preparing individual educational plans that take into account differences in abilities and needs, which contributes to achieving the best possible educational results. The educational content is also adapted to suit the nature of different disabilities.
Qualified Team & Advanced Digital Tools
Mrs. Mona pointed out that SCHS provides specialized remote support services, including speech and language therapy sessions, occupational therapy, and psychological and behavioral support, all supervised by a team of qualified specialists. These services rely on advanced digital tools that allow for continuous assessment and measurement of student progress, thus enhancing the effectiveness of both therapeutic and educational interventions.
The Pivotal Role of the Family
SCHS does not overlook the pivotal role of the family, as it continues to provide guidance and training programs for parents, enabling them to actively participate in the educational process through a genuine partnership between them and specialists, which helps to better understand and deal with the needs of students with disabilities.
She said, “This system has contributed to expanding the base of beneficiaries and has also enhanced the resilience of the education system and its ability to adapt to crises.” She emphasized that the challenge was not only in moving education to the digital realm, but also in ensuring its quality and suitability for every student, something SCHS works on daily through continuous evaluation and development.
Strategic Option
This strategy highlights the crucial role that Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services has played as a pioneer in the field of humanitarian education. Despite all the obstacles, it has been successful in turning distance learning from a short-term solution into a long-term strategic option that guarantees equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities and opens up new horizons for their integration and empowerment in a knowledge-based and innovative society.