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 U.A.E. 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.
LATEST ACHIEVEMENTS
The Future Centre for Special Needs is winner of 2009-2010 Khalifa Award for Education in the Special Needs Category.
An accredited site for the Competent Learner Model (CLM) awarded by the Tucci Learning Solutions, U.S.A.
Its Rehabilitation Department is HAAD certified
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY:
The Future Centre for Special Needs is a non-profit organization based in Abu Dhabi. It specializes in the education and habilitation of individuals with disabilities, who may stay at the centre between ages of 3 and 20 years of age.
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 a
A 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.
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Message from our President
The transformation of this website reflects the positive internal changes and growth we are experiencing at the Future Centre. With gracious thanks to our highly involved community, and the firm commitment of the Board of Directors, staff, and family members, the Future Centre has been able to make an exceptionally positive impact on the student body, and is looking forward to a triumphant future. We are proud to announce that the size of our staff and student body has more than doubled since our humble beginnings in September 2000, and we are delighted to be a part of the countless success stories of our students of the Future Centre.
Our purpose however, remains unchanged; The Future Centre maintains its commitment to providing relevant education and programs and rehabilitation services to students with Special Needs. Our goal is to improve the lives of our students and enable these students with disabilities to enjoy an enhanced quality of life, and pursue their dreams. Our hope is to extend this improved quality of life to the family, friends and supporters of our students. We will achieve this goal by continuing to maximize on the quality of care and education for children with disabilities.
Moving forward, our hope is to increase public awareness of special needs in the community and to generate more active involvement in the lives of individuals with disabilities.
I invite you to explore this new website, and learn of our highly integrated programs and activities. You are welcome to meet the staff, and view the latest articles on current and relevant issues. If you are a resident of Abu Dhabi, I invite you to become a contributor or a volunteer.
Thank you for visiting The Future Centre for Special Needs website.
NAHAYAN BIN MABARAK AL NAHAYAN
President
Message from the Chairman
I welcome you to our new website. This website is your window to the school that has positively influenced many lives since its modest inception in September 2000.
We have added new links to help our readers further appreciate the enormous possibilities in store for individuals with special needs. In MILESTONES we will showcase the challenges hurdled by our students and the victories they have won. We will be featuring the handmade products patiently crafted by some of our vocational students in our PRODUCTS tab, which is within the Get Involved page.
Another feature, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, pays tribute to the benevolent contribution that our friends, sponsors, and benefactors have given in support of our endeavours. CURRENT EVENTS AND NEWS will give you a round-up of the latest happenings and take you to the developments of the purpose-built edifice that is to be constructed for our students. This new building is yet another affirmation of the magnificent work that the Future Centre for Special Needs has done as an agent of change among its students and the community at large.
I guided the foundation of the Future Centre for Special Needs. I am very pleased that I did. I have witnessed the relentless efforts of the staff and the outpour of support and trust from the community. These combined endeavours have helped achieve our mission and that is to pave the road for a better future for individuals with special needs.
And so I hope this website renders you both more informed and more importantly encouraged by our past achievements and the continued success awaiting us.
Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim
Chairman
Message from the Director
The prosperous growth of the Future Centre since our founding in September 2000, and the exciting milestones that our children have achieved so far, have given us revived enthusiasm to continue our efforts and expand the Centre’s goals.
To the future, we are looking to introduce dynamic changes in curriculum and an enhancement of our inherent operating system in order to more efficiently serve our students. Our rehabilitation and habilitation programs, training and community education, as well as vocational training programs are consistently being strengthened to complement the growth of our student population. Looking onwards, we have a more rigorous set of objectives and stronger tools to achieve them.
Throughout these advancements however, we will never compromise our true reason for existence, which is our children. The students’ education and well-being are our highest priority, and we continually strive for a brighter future for them and their families.
Our continued success would not have been possible without the support of the Centre’s President, H.E.Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan and Chairman of the Board, Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, the Board of Directors, the staff, as well as volunteers, sponsors, embassies and government agencies. The students’ achievements have been made a reality only by the kindness and generosity of our members and supporters, and I would like to thank you for your continued support.
Together, we are finding new hope, and building the dreams of our students.
MOWFAQ M.A. MUSTAFA
Director