Stigma and Family Challenges Related to Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Gulf and UAE
Dr. Eman Gaad, PhD
Director of Disability Services, Community Development Authority, Dubai, UAE
Dr. Gaad is The Director of Disability Services at Dubai Government’s Community Development Authority. She is also a Senior lecturer at The British University in Dubai’s faculty of Education, and leads the University’s high quality Masters Programme in Special Education. She is currently the Executive Director of UAEDSA (United Arab Emirates Down Syndrome Association) and on Board of Directors of few non-profit organizations in the UAE. She is also on the international advisory board for JORSEN, an international peer-reviewed journal and an associate editor for another.
She has a wealth of teaching experience in the UAE and overseas. Prior to joining BUiD in 2004, Dr. Gaad was on the faculty of the UAE University, Department of Special Education for five years and lectured at the School of Education and Professional Development at the University of East Anglia, UK for five years.
Dr. Gaad has devoted much of her work to the area of Special Needs and has published the findings of her research work in international journals, such as The British Journal of Special Education, International Journal for Educational Management, JORSEN, and International Journal of Inclusive Studies. Dr. Gaad also works with local communities to help parents of children with special needs to facilitate their placement in regular schools. She is currently a national representative of the World Forum on Early Care and Education and advises the government on SEN related issues as she sits on national thinks tanks. In addition to this she has attended, was invited as a feature speaker, and chaired sessions in many international conferences to explore the development of special needs education worldwide.
Abstract
The status of early care inclusive education for children with ASD in UAE and stigma facing families of those children. Cultural acceptance and non-acceptance of inclusion of learners with ASD will be discussed. The presentation explores the status of early care inclusive education in the UAE general, and looks at its challenges facing learners and their families. Cultural, legal, and ethical issues will be discussed to enlighten the participants on the latest on this important but yet under developed issue in this part of the world.
The presentation simply looks at what is on the ground separating facts from fiction and what is hoped for in light of initiatives and strategies related to such area.
The presentation/session will include a Q & A session if participants wish to know more about a certain topic.