UAE ministry opens 'second home' for people of determination     

Seven care and rehabilitation centres for people of determination, operating under the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD), opened their doors to 836 students as part of its 'Your Second Home' initiative at the start of the new academic year.

Based on the concept of educational integration, the centres serve students with a wide range of conditions such as autism and similar disabilities, while other public educational institutions cater to students with physical disabilities including motor and hearing impairment. 

The students spend seven hours a day on average from Sunday to Thursday at the centres in Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Dibba.

Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, personally welcomed students at Umm Al Quwain Autism Centre and the Child Early Intervention Medical Centre in Dubai on the first day of the academic year. The minister met staff from various departments across the two centres and received a briefing on their daily operations. She also toured the facilities and met students and parents. 

The minister said: "The Ministry's 'Your Second Home' initiative reinforces the important contribution of the centres and their staff to the personal development of people of determination and their integration into society. Furthermore, it aspires to highlight the UAE's progress in the empowerment of people of determination, and strengthen its status as a tolerant nation that cherishes the diversity of its population, and provides a welcoming and enabling environment to varied segments."

She added: "The MoCD is keen to develop its care and rehabilitation centres to meet the needs of the students and their parents. The facilities provide innovative and state-of-the-art services in the fields of early intervention and special education as well as vocational training and rehabilitation. They also offer supporting treatment services including physical, occupational, speech and nursing therapy."

People of determination are a major priority of the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021 that seeks to establish the UAE as one of the foremost countries in the world in terms of economic and social development.

In a bid to meet the needs of people of determination and support them in realising their hopes and aspirations, MoCD has adopted a strategy that incorporates the latest methods and best practices from around the world.

People of determination are provided with integrated community care and mental health support to encourage them to become self sufficient and integrate them into the social mainstream.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com