Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) and the Al Jalila Foundation have cooperatively organised a new cycle of "Ta'alouf" programme with the aim of providing training and guidance to parents of people of determination on the Autism Spectrum. Through the initiative, the two organisations are seeking to provide parents of determination with the necessary utilities to support the needs of their children, including adequate skills to handle challenging behaviour.

The programme took place virtually from 22-26 November 2020 through the social media accounts of Zayed Higher Organisation (ZHO) and Al Jalila Foundation to ensure health and safety of the public amid pandemic restrictions. During the five-day programme, training and workshops were broadcast through the tech support of Microsoft teams.

The virtual training and workshops addressed a number of key issues including "the legal rights of a child and adolescent people of determination", and "the rights of people of determination and their protection from sexual harassment".

In addition, the workshops also discussed autism and the difference between behaviour and sensory issues as well as the ways to develop communication and language skills for children on the Autism Spectrum. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the workshops talked about various ways of creating the home environment and arranging educational aids and content for children on the Autism Spectrum.

Attended by more than 140 parents of children of determination from all seven Emirates and across all nationalities, the new cycle of the programme catered to the queries of all those in need of assistance. People who registered with the ZHO also participated in the programme in a bid to share their experience and knowledge of the organisation and its skilled employees with the parents in line with ZHO's social responsibility.

Responding to the development, ZHO Secretary-General Abdullah Abdulalee Al Humaidan said that the organisation has partnered with the Al Jalila Foundation to broaden the implementation of "Ta'alouf" programme across the Emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and northern regions. It also aims to provide support and assistance to parents and other family members of people of determination. Al Humaidan further expressed gratitude to the Al Jalila Foundation for providing the opportunity to establish the crucial programme.

In addition, Al Jalila Foundation CEO Dr. Abdul Karim Sultan Al Olama also expressed pride in partnering with Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination to overcome the hurdles faced by children of determination, despite the prevailing challenges imposed by the pandemic crisis. He added that the foundation continues to empower children of determination, their parents and their families. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was the first time when remote training was provided to parents over the internet in the new cycle.

Launched by the Al Jalila Foundation in 2013, the "Ta'alouf" Programme has seen 600 parents graduating between the years 2013 and 2018. In October 2018, the Al Jalila Foundation partnered with ZHO to expand and diversify the scope of the programme and enhance its results. Their collaboration has raised the number of graduates to more than 900 parents from various nationalities as of now.

WAM