Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, has visited Sanad Village to learn about the facilities and services that are tailored to empower the village’s children, obtain the necessary skills for self-reliance and inclusion within the community.
The visit to Sanad Village highlighted the role of the private sector in providing services to People of Determination, and the need for community partnership between the various sectors to achieve the common goal of providing the best international practices of rehabilitation and training programmes in the interest of the people of determination and their parents.
During the visit, she stressed the importance of the social inclusion of People of Determination, allowing them to integrate in the community and take part in any social, recreational, or sports activity, with the support and supervision of their families, who are the children’s first and best support system.
She also called for the active and strategic role of parents of People of Determination in treatment and rehabilitation programmes, without which the process could not be successful, since parents are the biggest supporters of their children, complementing and supporting the services they receive at centres at their homes.
The minister toured the 30,000 square meter facility which has a capacity of 500 students, learning about the sustainable concepts and witnessing children who benefit from the centre’s holistic and integrated approach towards treating and understanding autism and other related disorders.
The tour included the fully equipped classrooms and physical and behavioural therapeutic facilities where children are assessed as an ongoing, continuous part of care at Sanad Village. During the tour, Buhumaid interacted with therapists and specialists, who work on refining the technical and craft skills of students through workshops and helping them in their journey towards independence.
She lauded the efforts of Sanad Village in ensuring the real-life simulation areas such as the mall, movie theatre, and mock airport, which are vital components in enabling children at the Village to prepare for the transition into the bigger society.
Minister Buhumaid also toured the outer grounds of Sanad Village, including the exercise facilities, playgrounds, community gardens, and biodomes, which give children at the Village access to nature and help them to have regular outdoor and sports activities.
Source: Emirates News Agency