The QAT Blended Learning Education ME and QAT Development Center celebrated the dreams and aspirations of their students on the autism spectrum in a heartwarming Career Day held recently in Abu Dhabi, marking a prelude to Autism Awareness Month in April 2024.
This special event, aimed at empowering students and highlighting their potential, saw students dressing up in various professional outfits, from military uniforms to flight attendants, chefs, pilots, nurses, doctors, miners, and captains, each embodying their dream professions.
The initiative provided a platform for these young minds to express their future ambitions and showcased the inclusive educational approaches of the QAT Blended Learning Education ME and QAT Development Center.
By encouraging students to visualize themselves in their dream roles, the event aimed to boost their confidence and reinforce the message that they can aspire to and achieve their career goals regardless of the challenges they may face.
Engr. Li Schonberg, a mechatronic robotics AI engineer with a Master of Studies in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and co-founder of QAT Development Center and Robotics for autism, shared her thoughts on the occasion.
“To further this mission, we have initiated a grant program for parents facing difficulties in supporting their children’s development. Understanding that not everyone can afford to enroll their children in regular classes, we are committed to giving them leeway, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder a child’s potential for growth and learning,” she added.
“Today is a testament to what children on the autism spectrum can achieve when given the opportunity to express themselves and pursue their passions. Our goal is to continue providing a supportive and inclusive environment that nurtures these dreams into possibilities.”The event also follows a recently held sports fest by the school, which was graced by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbout bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a distinguished member of the UAE royal family. His attendance underscored the royal family’s support for inclusive education and the empowerment of individuals with special needs in the UAE.