What's Happening at CDC
Starting March 2023, CDC is going to host monthly talks on a variety of topics related to speech and language development, occupational therapy, handwriting, motor development, feeding and oral motor skills skills, behavior, among others. These meet ups will be happening on a monthly basis, to raise awareness and increase community engagement, and to discuss topics that parents and professionals find challenging or are interested to learn more about. We aim to provide parents a safe space to ask questions, meet CDC's clinicians, external guest speakers, and other parents.
These gatherings will have an informal format, in that they do not require registrations. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Our seond episode of "Let's talk about..." will be run by Life Skills hub, CDC sister company, and will focus on Play skills, Life skills and Vocational skills. Hoping to see you all there on Tuesday, March 14th between 4pm 4:45pm.
We are looking for senior clinicians to expand our team! Check out our Careers section for detailed descriptions and requirements to join our clinical team. Email your cover letter and CV to celine@cdcenterqatar.com
Child Development Center, Sensory Souk and Autism Parents are hosting a guest speaker, Dr. Stephen Shore. Dr. Shore is a University professor and an autism advocate, who was diagnosed with autism himself when he was a child.
Please use below link for registration process:
https://linktr.ee/sensorysouk
Please refer to Dr. Shore's full bio below:
About Dr. Shore
Stephen Mark Shore (born September 27, 1961) is an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University. He has written the books that include: College for Students with Disabilities, Understanding Autism for Dummies, Ask and Tell, and Beyond the Wall. Currently, he serves on the board of Autism Speaks, and is one of the first two autistic board members in its history, looking to improve the potential of those on the autism spectrum. He once headed the Asperger's Association of New England and was on the board of the Autism Society of America. Stephen is also one of the co-founders of the app Learn Autism.
Shore lost language skills before the age of four, then started getting them back at four years old. He has been described as having a special interest in music. He has discussed difficulties with completing assignments presented in formats that he wasn't used to, leading him to drop out of a doctorate in music program. However, he eventually obtained a doctorate in Special Education.
الدكتور ستيفن شور
ستيفن مارك شور (من مواليد 27 سبتمبر 1961) هو أستاذ من ذوي التوحد متخصص في تربية الخاصة بجامعة أديلفي. قام بتأليف الكتب التي تشمل: كلية للطلاب ذوي الإعاقة ، وفهم التوحد للاغبياء ، اسأل وأخبر ، وما وراء الجدار.
يعمل حاليًا في مجلس إدارة Autism Speaks ، وهو أحد أول عضوين في مجلس إدارة التوحد في تاريخه ، ويتطلع إلى تحسين إمكانات ذوي التوحد.
ترأس جمعية أسبرجر في نيو إنجلاند وكان عضوًا في مجلس إدارة جمعية التوحد الأمريكية.
ستيفن هو أيضًا أحد مؤسسي تطبيق Learn Autism.
فقد شور مهاراته اللغوية قبل سن الرابعة ، ثم بدأ في استعادتها في سن الرابعة. وُصِف بأن لديه اهتمامًا خاصًا بالموسيقى. و لكن كانت لديه صعوبات في المهام التنفيدية، مما دفعه إلى ترك شهادة الدكتوراه في برنامج الموسيقى. ومع ذلك ، حصل في النهاية على درجة الدكتوراه في التربية الخاصة
Research Study: Kamila Janik, Clinical Program Lead, is spearheading our participation in a new study which is going to be conducted by Dr. Fouad Alshaban and his team from Qatar Biomedical Research Institute on a topic of an innovative eye tracking device for screening and diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Children between the age of 3-15 who have a diagnosis of Autism or who have a sibling with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder can participate in the study. Full details of the study, including a brochure, contact information, and consent forms (in English and Arabic) are available by contacting the Clinical Coordinators.
In the Community
In light of Qatar National Sports Day, the early intervention team prepared a small activity for the kids' Center as well as for the team to celebrate this day.
Kids enjoyed a fun day in the sun whereby some races, sand play and water balloons fight took place. The day was filled with action filled activities and laughs.
Kamila Janik presented a workshop on Jan. 30, 2019 entitled "No More Diapers" with effective toilet training techniques rooted in behavioral science. Strategies for assessing toileting needs, setting up the environment for successful toilet training, developing toilet training plans, implementation of research-based strategies, as well as tackling difficulties were discussed.
SME Excellence Award Recipient
CDC Founder and Advocate, Hasna Nada, accepted the SME Excellence 2018 award presented by Qatar Development Bank to the top 50 small and mid-sized organizations in Qatar.
It is a testament to our center and dedicated team that work tirelessly on maintaining excellence in all areas; as well as a special honor for the vision of the founder and founding members who envisioned a special needs center beyond compare in Qatar.
Founder Hasna Nada moderated a closed session panel discussion on Autism prevalence for WISH, Nov. 2018
Diagnostics Training: Our Clinical Program Lead, Kamila Janik, BCBA, attended a training hosted by QBRI encompassing the administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – 2nd edition (ADOS-2) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R). Click here to read the Qatar Tribune article. CDC will soon offer the ADOS-2 and ADI-R as a diagnostic assessment!
Research Study: CDC is honored to collaborate with Dr. Ghizlane Bendriss and her team of researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar on a project examining the relationship between the gut and the brain. Adults or children suffering from one of the following: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, that are willing to participate in this research can do so with minimum time and discomfort. Click Here for details on participating in this study.
The panel of presenters from "The Gut, The Brain" presentation at Weill-Cornell Medicine, Qatar organized by Dr. Ghizlane. Our Clinical Program Lead, Kamila Janik, had a very informative presentation on the clinical perspective on feeding.
In The News: Al Jazeera report on autism features our Founder, Hasna, and her son. Researchers at the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute are testing a device that diagnoses autism in infants as young as six months old by tracking their eye movement. Qatar remains on the forefront of early detection research.
In the news
Congratulations to our friend, supporter, and keynote speaker for our first conference: Dr. Stephen Shore on his appointment as a Board Member of Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. Click here for the full article.