With the aim of supporting Children of determination and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi launched a guide that provides information and advice on how to deal with the current situation and adapt to the major changes in daily routine.

Dr. Bushra Al Mulla, Executive Director of the Community Development Sector in the Department of Community Development, said that due to the current conditions and the closure of all schools, programs and services concerned with People of Determination, a sudden change occurred in the daily routine. Therefore the department worked on designing a special guide that suits the needs of the current period, from By providing families of children of determination with information and educational materials that enable them to support the further promotion of their developmental and educational development by including many learning opportunities in order to make the most of the time they spend at home.

She said : “Every child of determination is unique and has individual strengths and needs. This guide is a reference from which parents choose strategies and tools that best suit their child, needs, skills and interests. Parents can also seek advice from specialists and service providers For their child, the guide included a selection of evidence-based scientific references that suit different situations. The guide reviews 3 main support strategies, which are: Support their understanding of the current circumstance, provide them with opportunities to express and adapt, and organize the daily routine.

According to Dr. Al-Mulla, the levels of understanding of children who have concerns about the Corona virus and how it spreads, reducing its risks and preventing infection are different. Families can use a set of tips in the guide to increase children’s awareness to understand the current situation.

Dr. Bushra added: “It may be difficult for some children of determination to express their feelings about the changes that occurred in their usual routine due to the difficulty of social communication or limited skills, and as a result, children may appear or increase unwanted behaviors to express their frustration or Their anxiety or anxiety, and therefore we must be aware of these changing behaviors and provide the necessary support. ”

She concluded: Every family needs a routine that helps them to organize daily life and avoid chaos, so that children perform better, behaviors and educationally when there is a steady routine, regular and continuous, and in particular, some children with autism who show more ability to adapt and adapt in If they maintain a regular and steady routine because this gives them a feeling of comfort and enables them to better express their feelings about the urgent changes, and as a result of the sudden changes in the routine caused by the spread of COVID-19 virus, it became necessary to strike a balance between keeping a habit Basic daily habits and add new help to adapt to stay at home.