ACCD Organizes Experts Workshop on Early Detection and Intervention for Children with Disabilities
The Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD) organized a Workshop this morning, Wednesday, October 16, 2024, in Cairo. This Workshop was held as part of the implementation of the Project “Developing the Capacity of Early Detection and Intervention among Stakeholders Concerned with Children with Disabilities within the Context of Scientific Advancement and Technological Progress”. This Project is supported by the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), the Islamic Development Bank, and a number of other partners.
Professor Hassan Al-Bilawi, Secretary General of ACCD, stated that this Project is one of ACCD’s strategic initiatives. It falls within its efforts to implement the "Education for Hope" Model for upbringing Arab children, which is an integrated, interconnected model capable of accommodating new developments and advancements to achieve sustainable development goals. He added that the Workshop was dedicated to discussing the Guiding Manual on Early Detection and Intervention Strategies, which is a component of the Project. This Manual aims to enhance the capacities of the stakeholders concerned with children with various disabilities in the Arab countries in early detection and intervention. These two aspects are considered among the most important avenues for improving the health and developmental status of children with disabilities, as well as one of their most crucial rights guaranteed by international conventions, laws, treaties, and charters concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, encompassing equitable, fair, inclusive, and high-quality health and education.
Eighteen experts from four Arab countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt), representing various related specializations, participated in the Workshop. They analyzed the content of the Manual, including concepts, knowledge, and skills in the fields of hearing, visual, and motor disabilities, sensory integration disorder, communication and language disorders, and cognitive ability disorders, in addition to educational inclusion. The aim was to enrich the Manual and benefit from it when applied by caregivers of children with disabilities to facilitate early identification, detection, diagnosis, and prevention of disability, or to reduce its effects and participate in its treatment, utilizing specialized technological programs and applications in this field.
It is worth noting that ACCD, along with its partners, is currently preparing a Study on the status of early detection and intervention in a number of Arab countries as part of the Project's implementation. This Study will contribute to improving policies and practices in this area and enhance opportunities for children with disabilities to access necessary developmental and educational services, thereby providing a more supportive and suitable environment.
Date: October 17, 2024
