The Future Centre for Special Needs is a non-profit organization that has been in operation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates since September 2000. It is recognized by the uae. Ministry of Social Affairs. The Future Centre accommodates an annual average population of 170 students between 3 and 20 years of age from various nationalities, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. It is a centre dedicated to the empowerment of individuals with disabilities, employing a systematic, structured and balanced approach resulting in the students’ improved quality of life. Members of its staff come from various nationalities and all have gained their respective qualifications from either their home countries or from abroad. Most of the employees have university degrees while others have done postgraduate studies.
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY:
The Centre was set up in September 2000 with sixty students. Since then, the student population has multiplied, with one hundred sixty students in the current academic year 2011-2012. Its multnational team of specialists consists of special education teachers, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologist and members of the administration staff.
It being a non-profit organization, the Centre thrives on the benevolence of the various sectors of the community, who provide support in the form of cash donations, student sponsorships, and free use of facilities, professional services on pro-bono, voluntary work and special student activities and events.
Our Mission Statement:
PRIMARY MISSION
To equip individuals with disabilities with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to realize their full potential, in a safe, secure, and stimulating environment, in order for them to lead fulfilling lives.
SECONDARY MISSION
To increase public awareness of disabilities and to empower the various stakeholders with appropriate knowledge and skills in dealing with people with disabilities.
Our Philosophy of Education:
The Future Centre for Special Needs works on the philosophy that individuals with disabilities have the right for appropriate education and intervention. They are to be treated as persons first before the diagnosis. They are to be accorded the appropriate opportunities for growth and development.
Our Vision: The Future Centre is working towards becoming aA premier institution with standard of practice and service that is at par with the best national and international benchmarks.
OUR CORE VALUES
We value:
Empowerment Every individual is unique in his/her strengths and abilities. We seek to discover, develop and harness every one of our students’ strengths to enable them to lead more fulfilling lives.
Perseverance We relentlessly persevere in the development of the students and their own personal growth. We work as a team, as well as individuals in respective fields, and persist to maximize our students’ potential.
Respect We thrive on respect: with each others, and within our community.
Opportunity To better the development of each of our students, we open our Centre to old traditions as well as new opportunities, as we are always looking to grow.
Diversity The Future Centre is built on diverse cultures and background, and we welcome the values of a diverse community.
About the Students
We cater to an annual average of 170 students with various disabilities, 50% comes from UAE and the other half comes from about twenty nationalities and with degrees of severity between mild to moderate. Students at the Future Centre have various conditions like ASD or Autism Spectrum. Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, motor disorders, speech and language disorders, SLD or specific learning disabilities like ADHD and dyslexia, hearing
impairment, seizure disorders, and other rare conditions like Cohen Syndrome,Seckle Syndrome and Dr. Joubert Syndrome among others.
