MoCD, Sharjah Centre for Learning Difficulties sign MoU to provide best proactive services

DUBAI, Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development (MoCD), and Sheikha Jameela Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning “specific services for students with learning disabilities”.

The MoU would also explore building a regulatory framework that would positively impact people with learning disabilities, by providing them with educational, rehabilitation and therapeutic intervention techniques that accommodate their needs, continuous assessment of their abilities and requirements, and enable them to receive the best proactive services.

Under the MoU, cooperation between the two parties would improve the evaluation and diagnosis of people with learning disabilities to identify the services needed for them and achieve optimal response to their educational needs. In addition, the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) will issue people of determination cards to become members of the Sharjah Centre of Learning Difficulties (SCLD) who meet the criteria in accordance with the National Classification of Disabilities and achieve more coordination and cooperation in specialised programmes, projects and studies for people with learning disabilities.

Hessa Buhumaid emphasised that the ministry sought to enhance cooperation and partnership with various authorities to improve the wellbeing of all members of the community, launch initiatives and procedures that promote the empowerment of priority members in the community, ensure the active participation of all sectors, federal, local and private government authorities and non-benefit profit associations. She noted that the MoU paves the way to further continued support and comprehensive empowerment of community members, especially people of determination, reflecting the best images of the sustainable development process with the 50th vision.

Furthermore, Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), praised the signing of the MoU as a real benefit for people with learning difficulties, their parents and staff.

She said, “The SCLD is a specialised centre that keeps pace with the latest and best international practices with its services provided by a group of highly-qualified professionals. But she added, “The SCLD is committed to developing and consolidating partnerships with centres, institutions, universities and authorities at the local, regional and global levels to achieve its goals, which are primarily in the interest of people with learning difficulties and their families in general.”

She elaborated that the MoU fits into this framework to serve them and continues the scientific, knowledge-based and awareness-raising role of the SCLD towards students, teachers, parents and different sections of society. She expressed her pride in the achievements of the SCLD even though it was established only six years ago. These achievements confirm the seriousness and sense of responsibility within the centre, especially knowing that the number of students who have benefited from its services since its establishment has reached 718, including 1,048 evaluation cases submitted. These include assessments in psychoeducation, learning difficulties, occupational therapy, and speech and language.

The MoU states the necessity of organising the mechanisms and conditions of the requirements for issuing people of determination cards to the centre’s members who meet the standards in the Cabinet Decision No. 3 of 2018, concerning the adoption of the National Classification of Disabilities (People of Determination) in the UAE to take advantage of the benefits and services for people of determination card holders, ensure the quality of early assessment and appropriate services by relevant authorities and respond to their educational needs that ensure their social and educational inclusion.

The MoU identified several obligations and procedures to be followed each according to its role in assessing cases and providing the necessary intervention before the final diagnosis; evaluating the response to educational intervention, delivering all specialised counselling types and training programmes in learning difficulties, in addition to studying the possibility of electronic connectivity to ensure the proactive provision of services to the people of determination card applicants including the registration and evaluation of cases, inquiry about the status of applicants, and approval of educational and psychological reports.

The MoCD issues people of determination cards for UAE citizens and residents alike by registering on the ministry’s website: www.mocd.gov.ae and attaching the required documents and reports proving the person’s eligibility for this card.

Source: Emirates News Agency