Our Model 

The Child Development Center offers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with mild to moderate autism and related developmental delays. ABA is currently one of the only scientifically recognized and recommended interventions for children with autism. ABA refers to a number of interventions that are based on the principles of learning theory that aim to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree. Therapists collect data on the frequency and accuracy of behaviors across key skill areas including receptive language, expressive language, motor skills, activities of daily life, play, social skills and pre-academic skills. Some commonly used teaching strategies include Discrete Trial Training (DTT), Natural Environment Teaching (NET) and Verbal Behavior Approach (VB). In addition to increasing children’s skills in these areas, ABA strategies also help to decrease any unwanted or challenging behavior.

The ABA team at Child Development Center work closely with our colleagues in Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Pathology, to ensure that children work on multi-disciplinary goals.

The ABA department is excited to offer intensive home-based therapy which provides an ideal setting for teaching children skills as it allows the therapist to implement interventions in the child's most natural environment.  Therapists will develop appropriate goals based upon assessments,  and select  corresponding intervention methods with the needs of the home environment  in mind. Working in the  home will present unique opportunities to incorporate  parents and siblings in therapy. Sessions are available in 2-hour or 3-hour blocks. Contact our Clinical Coordinators for more details at +974 4414-7283. 

One of the hallmarks of a well-rounded ABA therapy program is that students get the chance to practice the skills they learn in the real world. As your child learns and grows in their 1:1 program, it is important that they are challenged to use this knowledge in a practical way. As we always say, a child's occupation is play, so what better way to practice than through play! The Circle Time Fun Nursery Group simulates a typical circle time at a mainstream nursery, including song and dance, basic peer interactions and multi-modal play opportunities such as arts and crafts. One central teacher delivers previously mastered instructions in order to build students' confidence in using their new language in a group setting, while children are silently prompted and reinforced from behind for their participation.  It is our intention to build strong, confident students with a love of learning across many environments.

The ABA Buddy Club uses a Multi-Modal teaching approach, incorporating structured play opportunities across many sensory forms so that they can be more effective learners in their natural environment placements.

Children will learn to participate in and enjoy:

• Songs and Music
• Dance
• Movement
• Dramatic play
• Construction play
• Thinking games
• Arts and crafts
• Messy play

Incorporating a range of goals from across a child’s development, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) follows a structured plan to ensure children are building skills across a variety of areas. The ABA Buddy Club is based on 2 internationally recognised approaches: Dr Tony Attwood’s Stress and Anger Management Program (STAMP), and Super Skills by the Autism Aspergers Publishing Company. ABA also provides clear instructions so children that undertand the expectations of a situation, prompts to help the children achieve the target behaviour quickly and accurately, and an emphasis on positive reinforcement to ensure children will continue to participate in these targets in their future.

The group follows a schedule typical for many mainstream settings; children will learn to participate during

• Entry Routine
• Group Play
• Circle Time
• A Themed, Multi-Modal Activity
• Classroom Clean-up
• Closing Circle Time, including a review of the day’s activity