Sidra Medicine programme empowers parents of children with Autism

Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, has launched the latest iteration of its 'Teach Me How' programme on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is designed to empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to effectively support their neurodiverse children.'Teach Me How' includes interactive sessions with experts from Sidra Medicine, to deepen parent’s understanding of ASD, along with access to a supportive network to share experiences and resources. The programme, available in English and Arabic, is offered by a multi-disciplinary Developmental Paediatrics team, consisting of speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, and physicians specialising in neurodevelopment.Dr Alia Satti, senior attending physician in Developmental Paediatrics at Sidra Medicine said: "One of the strengths of the programme is its focus on practicality. We go beyond theory, using real-world examples and proven techniques which empowers parents with the knowledge and skills needed to support their child's unique needs.”The 'Teach Me How' team are trained in programmes such as EarlyBird, Cygnet, DIRFloortime, Hanen's More Than Words, and Elklan. Participants learn to address common ASD misconceptions, identify core characteristics, and understand the range of presentations within the autism spectrum. The programme covers additional topics of interest such as supporting children with communication and social interaction challenges, sensory processing differences, and behaviour management strategies.Dr Christin Helen Vlahos, clinical psychologist at Sidra Medicine said: "Parent education is crucial for parents of autistic children as it helps them understand their child's behaviours, strengths, and challenges, fostering empathy and effective communication. By learning evidence-based strategies for behavior management and communication, with an experienced team such as ours, parents can create supportive environments that enhance their child's development.”To accommodate diverse schedules, 'Teach Me How' has two cycles in November 2024. A four-session programme in English will be held in-person at Sidra Medicine in the evenings, while the Arabic four-session programme, will be offered online in the mornings. Each session will run for 3-hours, providing a comprehensive learning experience. Programme fees are applicable.