Special Needs Education

It is Qatar’s national policy that every child should be provided with education to help it reach its full potential, and MoEHE is committed to inclusive integration in education where possible. Some 80% of independent schools have introduced additional educational needs facilities and staff.

Older individuals with special needs are not neglected and a number of programmes and facilities are available to young adults.

Al Maha Pediatric Specialized Care Center F5 is located in a brand new facility within Al Wakra Hospital. The centre offers expert long-term and acute care for children with special needs. This unique centre, the first of its kind in the region, is an ideal facility designed to create a home-like environment aimed at promoting a better quality of life for children with long-term care needs. It includes medical, diagnostic and therapy services (such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, assistive technology, audiology services, seating and positioning, and feeding and swallowing as well as psychological support and intervention). The centre also provides innovative services such as aquatic therapy offered in a multi-level hydrotherapy pool, music and art therapy, virtual reality treatment and other services. hamad.qa

Al Noor Institute for the Visually Impaired A4 caters for visually impaired peoople over the age of three years. Younger children receive care visits in their home. 4422 2777, see their Facebook page

Al Tawasul Specialized Center for ENT E3 is specialised in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Audiology and Speech Language Therapy. They provide life-changing treatment and support to patients from infancy to old age. 4017 6399, see their Facebook page

Awsaj Academy C2, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), tutors Grade KG – 12 students with learning challenges in classes of 10 students and one teacher. Teaching is in English, and the curriculum includes maths, English, science, Arabic, Islamic studies, Qatar national history, art, IT and physical education. It also has an outreach centre that provides evaluation and professional development services to the community (see Qatar Foundation in this section). 4454 2111/15, awsaj.qa

Child Development Center (CDC) B4 is a special needs centre in West Bay. Established in 2013, CDC provides a network of internationally qualified and licensed professionals who offer child-centred and evidence-based early detection and intervention for children with developmental delays. Services include applied behaviour analysis (ABA), speech therapy, and occupational therapy, as well as professional development training and workshops. 6692 0199, 4414 7283, cdcenterqatar.com

Doha International Center for Special Needs

E3 teaches special needs children using early intervention through five levels. After they finish all levels, they can integrate into general schools. The centre teaches language and function skills through evaluation, diagnostic and learning plans for each child. 4469 2920, dic-specialneeds.net

Family Hope Center C3 is for children, adolescents and adults with social, mental and physical challenges. The centre was established to provide the necessary resources to support both individuals with special needs and their families. 4435 0951, familyhope.qa

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) C3/D3 provides services and outpatient programmes in Early Detection and Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Early Intervention, School Rehabilitation Services for children with disabilities and more, as well as Medical and Behaviour Consultation Clinics. The programme accepts referrals only from HMC's physicians to make best use of the programme and resources for the right group of children. hamad.qa

HOPE Qatar Centre for Special Needs D4 provides Help, Opportunity, Participation, and Education (HOPE) for children and young people aged 3 – 25. Established in 2005, HOPE Qatar is approved by MoEHE and offers individualised programmes meeting academic as well as therapeutic needs of its students in a near school environment that enables achieving their full potential and holistic development. 800 HOPE (4673), hope-qatar.org

Mind Institute E3 works with children from birth to 18 years with communication difficulties, fine and gross motor challenges, language delays, hearing difficulties, educational delays, behaviour disorders, emotional disorders, sensory integration issues, social skills challenges and more.

3337 7648, 4418 1968, mindinstitutes.com

Omega Centre for Special Needs Education E3 offers diagnostic, therapeutic and education services and aims to assist families whose children have psychiatric, physical, educational and social challenges. 4451 3210, omegaqatar.org

Qatar Assistive Technology Centre (Mada) C4 enables those with learning, visual, hearing, and physical disabilities (including dyslexia) to access information and communications technology without barriers offering assessments, advice and training. 4459 4050, mada.org.qa

The Qatar Institute for Speech and Hearing (QISH) C3 is devoted to speech/language, hearing and rehabilitation services. QISH aims to enhance the wellbeing of people living in Qatar. It is a platform that provides an understanding into various issues facing children and adults with special needs, hearing loss, speech difficulties, psychological disorders and physical disability. 4412 2742, 4487 3909, qish.info

The Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs D4 attends to the social, mental, academic and healthy rehabilitation of people with special needs in society, in keeping with the Islamic principles, traditions and customs of Qatari society. qsrn.org

Renad Academy C2, a member of QF, is a school for children and young adults, aged 3 – 21, with a diagnosis of ASD. The school provides education and specialised services to students, and training and support to parents. The school provides all aspects of education for its students, using evidence-based practices such as ABA, discreet trial training, and structured TEACCH in one-to-one and small group settings (see Qatar Foundation in this section). 4454 1974, renad.qa

Shafallah-Integration for the Disabled A4, established in 1999, offers state-of-the-art technologies, including an on-site Genetic Research Centre, cutting-edge therapies, and a first-class faculty and counsellors. The centre is a non-profit, private institution, serving as a model for the provision of special education, therapeutic, and healthcare support services for children with disabilities from birth to adulthood. 4495 6666, shafallah.org.qa

Step by Step Centre for Special Needs D3 offers a caring and stimulating environment to enable children, aged 3 – 16, with learning challenges to achieve their full academic and personal potential through specialised teaching in a school setting and individual therapy sessions. It also has a Summer School Programme. 4475 7625, 5592 7376, stepbystepqatar.com

The Learning Center (TLC) C2, a member of QF, is a centralised student support services team comprising school psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists and autism specialists. The TLC Assessment and Therapy Outreach Center (DARB) provides educational evaluations, assessments and therapy services for children and adolescents aged 3 – 18 in the following areas to support the learning, social-emotional and developmental challenges and deliver outcome-driven, learning-oriented, and evidence-based therapies and intervention services to families in Qatar: • Cognitive and psychoeducational evaluations • Speech and language therapy and evaluations • Occupational therapy and evaluations • Autism services (ABA assessments and therapy) • Gifted and talented evaluations. 4454 2106, 7400 2065, tlc@qf.org.qa, qf.org.qa/tlc

Register for School

The registration of new students with Additional Educational Support Needs (AESN) in kindergartens (KGs) is only for Qataris, while registration in the first grade is allowed for both Qatari as well as expatriate students with special needs, according to MoEHE. In a circular issued to independent/public schools, the ministry said students who suffer from speech and language problems like hearing, hyperactivity disorder and physical disabilities not associated with mental disabilities can register directly through independent/public schools.

Hearing impaired students of all levels of ability can register at the Audio Education Complex Children who suffer from conditions like cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, autism and others can apply through Roua Centre for Assessment, Support and Counseling under the Special Education Office to determine the right school for the student.

Meanwhile, MoEHE has issued a circular to public schools, asking them to admit children of employees working in the private sector in areas which do not have private schools like Al Shamal, Dukhan, Rawdat Rashed, Al Karaana, Al Sheehaniya, Al Ghuwariyah, Al Zubara, Al Kharsaah, Al Kaaban, Al Ghashamia and Al Jamiliyah. According to the circular, all admission and registration requirements should be met and the parents should provide documents proving their residence in the area. Students cannot be transferred to public schools in areas which have private schools.

ACS International School Doha recently held the school’s 8th graduation ceremony attended by over 500 well-wishers including VIP guests, members of the faculty, family, and friends. The graduation marked a significant milestone in the educational journey of the students, as they received acceptance into prestigious international universities.

Among the dignitaries present was Tim Cagney, CE of ACS International Schools, as well as representatives of several key corporate partners.

As a prelude to the graduation celebrations, the Al Jaber Twin Towers in Lusail City came alive with a magical glow on the night before, adorned with graduation photos and messages of ACS Doha’s Class of 2023.

This lighting of the buildings is a testament to the unwavering support, love and joy for the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2023. This is also the first time ever in Qatar that photos of graduates have been showcased in such a grand manner.

Sixty-nine students successfully completed and received their high school diploma, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, an extremely rigorous internationally recognised pre-university qualification. Many members of the graduating class already gained acceptance into prestigious international universities.

Robert Cody, Head of ACS International School Doha, said it is both a bittersweet moment to bid farewell to students and a proud moment to see how they have grown and developed during their time at ACS. “We have nurtured and prepared them not only academically but also holistically, equipping them with the readiness and resilience needed for them to excel as people, and thrive academically,” he said.

Awards and recognitions

Several students were also awarded and recognised for their academic performance and contribution to the school and the community:

Mahmoud Elsayed Ibrahim – Valedictorian, Othman Abderahman Ouzzani – Salutatorian, Kassandra Barajas – Community Service Award, Mykayla Williams – Community Service Award, Amira Shaheen Jafri – Class Historian Award, Karima Ahmed – ACS Founders’ Award.

Some of the graduates will pursue further studies at universities abroad to study medicine, while students who want to pursue career-related programme and Advanced Placement courses were also admitted to prestigious universities in different countries. These notable universities include:

George Mason University (USA)

University of San Francisco (USA)

University of Illinois-Chicago (USA)

University of Wisconsin Madison (USA)

University of Maryland College Park (USA)

McMaster University (Canada)

The University of Western Ontario (Canada)

University College London (UK)

University of London (UK)

Georgetown University in Qatar

Texas A&M University at Qatar

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar

KU Leuven (Belgium)

Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands)

Universitat de Barcelona (Spain)

EPITA – School of Engineering and Computer Science (France)

Hanze University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)

De La Salle University (The Philippines)

RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (Ireland)

FH Aachen (Germany)

Founding Family Member Yasmin Mahmoud shared how she felt immense joy to witness her daughter achieve her dream of getting into the university of her choice. Yasmin said that the nurturing environment and excellent education provided by ACS played a significant role in her growth and development.

I am grateful for the dedicated teachers and staff who have contributed to her journey, guiding her every step of the way. ACS has truly been a foundation for her success, and I am excited to see what the future holds for her as she embarks on this new chapter.

ACS Doha currently offers students the opportunity to study globally-recognised programmes with the International Baccalaureate diploma and career-related programme, Advanced Placement courses, a US programme offering college-level curricula and exams to high school students, as well as the US High School Diploma.

Visit acs-schools.com to learn more about the programmes and courses on offer.