Manama, Mar22(BNA)The University of Bahrain (UoB) has today hosted a function at Zain e-learning Centre at (UoB) Sakhir Campus marking the World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD-2015), which falls on March 21.
Special Education Service Centre for Children (Tafaol) organised the event as part of efforts to ensure autistic kids the necessary material and moral support. Addressing the event (UoB) President Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Janahi stressed the importance of mustering all official and community efforts to so as to provide an appropriate environment which would enable people with special needs live normally and reveal their creative potential.

He commended the institutions specialized in assisting people with special needs, citing particularly Special Education Service Centre for Children (Tafaol) which extends a lifeline to autistic children. Citing latest statistics, he said that 35 people with special needs are studying for their BA and MA degrees at the University of Bahrain which provides them with all the necessary equipment and facilities to pursue their academic studies.
Special Education Service Centre for Children (Tafaol) Dr. Osama Madbouli stressed the importance of early intervention through a therapeutic and educational programme for children with down syndrome.
“The non-lucrative centre accommodates autistic children so as to help parents deal with this category of kids”, Dr. Madbouli said, pointing out that the youngest child with Down syndrome admitted to the centre is aged 21 days only.
MP Mohammed Al-Jowder, whose 14-year old daughter is children with Down syndrome, stressed urged parents to parents to communicate with specialised centres so as to follow scientific methods in catering to their children’s needs.
“My daughter Hager can speak and write in Arab and English and stand on the stage and play a role”, he said, pointing out children with Down syndrome may have special talents. Dr. Janahi, Tafaol board member Khalid Al-Amer and Dr. Madbouli honoured the sponsors of the Special Education Service Centre for Children (Tafaol) as well as model mothers of children with Down syndrome.
The UAE, Kuwaiti, Jordanian, Egyptian and Tunisian Ambassadors were also honoured, along with representatives of the University of Bahrain and the Ministry of Interior.

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BNA 1857 GMT 2015/03/22