The Able-Me Early Intervention Day Programme (Able-Me) is a specialist programme adapted to meet the unique learning needs of each child. We work with children from 3 years old and above who have a wide array of developmental delays and/or learning challenges such as those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD/ADHD, Global Developmental Delay (GDD,) speech delays and Dyslexia, among others.
Sensation Station Centre recognises the barriers that these children may face in society. Thus, unlocking their fullest potential and equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in daily life through intervention and best practice are at the heart of what we do.
Let’s have a look into the core features that make Able-Me such a distinctive programme:
Classroom Environment that Promotes Individualised Learning
Able-Me replicates a classroom environment within our clinical setting to promote individual and group-based learning. Children are assigned into small groups with other students with a similar set or level of needs and abilities. This set-up maximises our student’s learning opportunities and enables them to grow and develop alongside their peers. In Able-Me, we ensure to create an environment that promotes not only personal growth but also respect and social awareness by including concepts such as sharing, turn-taking and helping one another – which are all vital as they navigate everyday life.
An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) will be devised for each child to outline the goals that our Able-Me Team will work towards. Instruction within the classroom is also individualised to effectively meet the goals and objectives set in each child’s ILP.
Multi-Disciplinary Team & Therapy-based Approach
The Able-Me Team consists of highly qualified early childhood and clinical professionals that ensure that a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to learning is successfully carried out. Sensation Station holds a Facility License issued by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and all our clinical staff are issued with an individual professional practitioner license by the DHA.
The role of our Able-Me Class Leads
Our Able-Me classes are delivered by our Able-Me Class Leads, who have relevant experience in early childhood development and special needs education. They inspire, encourage and promote children’s learning, care and growth as they deliver each Able-Me class session. They ensure that each child’s individual learning needs are effectively catered for as well as nurture their sense of belonging and becoming. Our Able-Me Class Leads play an incredibly vital role in the lives of our students, as they are their primary teacher outside of home.
Our class leads work collaboratively with our in-house Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists as they produce age-appropriate therapy-based activities that target different areas of the child’s development. Therapy materials and resources that promote skills such as language and literacy, cognitive, sensory and social development are also utilised in class as part of this specialised approach.
The Role of our Speech and Language Therapists
Recognising that communication is an essential component for learning, our DHA-licensed Speech and Language Therapists administer a weekly one to one 30-minute therapy session to help the child to develop his speech, language, communication, fluency, voice and even social skills. The benefits of Speech and Language Therapy include learning to follow verbal instructions, building vocabulary, improving speech clarity and pronunciation and reading and literacy. (Read more about the benefits of Speech and Language Therapy here.)
The Role of our Occupational Therapists
Focusing on helping the child achieve developmental goals that greatly contribute to learning, our DHA-licensed Occupational Therapists administer a weekly one-on-one (30 minutes) or group therapy sessions (1 hour and 30 minutes) to boost the child’s progress in areas such as gross motor, fine motor, visual perception, sensory processing, play skills and activities of daily living. Occupational Therapy can also help improve attention, concentration, ability to follow instructions, as well as organising oneself within a learning environment. (Read more about the benefits of Occupational Therapy here.)
At the end of each term, the members of the Able-Me team discuss the progress of each child, evaluate and review goals and plan new strategies to enable them to reach new milestones in their areas of learning and development.
Specialised Curriculum Framework
Able-Me adapts the Cherry Garden Curricular Framework, which was created by Tapestry and Cherry Garden School, an outstanding special school for children from 2 to 11 years in England, United Kingdom. It provides a unique framework for children with educational needs, relating to 9 areas of learning, broken into 24 aspects. Children’s growth and progress are documented through the Tapestry Journal, an online journal that provides an individual record of the child’s unique experiences, development and learning journey through their stay at Able-Me. Each aspect of the Cherry Garden curriculum has up to 10 branches indicating a different level. The child’s branches will be mapped out in their Tapestry Journal and ILP.
Additionally, the Able-Me curriculum covers other fundamental areas that are vital to the children’s learning, including but not limited to, numeracy, language and literacy, expressive art and design, personal, social and emotional development, physical development and understanding of the world.
Fully Equipped Centre Facilities
Our centre houses multiple functional rooms that support different areas of the children’s learning and development – all of which are accessible for our Able-Me students. Below are some of them:
‘Fun Junction’ – Sensory Gym
The ‘Fun Junction’ sensory gym includes a soft play area, a 20-feet interactive magnetic climbing wall with whiteboard, a trampoline, balancing beam, specialised occupational therapy swings, ball-pool and various other equipment and games. This space has been designed to target and develop gross motor function, motor planning, coordination, perception and fine motor skills through jumping, climbing, reaching, balancing, writing and problem solving using fun activities in structured and free play.
‘Wonder World’ – Multi-Sensory Snoezelen® Room
Designed to create a stimulating yet calming atmosphere. The environment aims to provide a “failure-free” experience, allowing pleasurable rewards without the need for verbal abilities or requiring specific outcomes. It includes an interactive panel, a bubble tube, sensory switches, a colorful fibre optic shimmering curtain and an LED projector, among others.
‘My World’ – Role Play Area
Built to spark children’s enthusiasm, creative play and imagination. This area provides an opportunity for children to learn through role play/pretend play relating to the class learning journey themes. It encourages children to explore their feelings, to communicate freely, to participate in social situations and to gain confidence in a fun and therapeutic environment.
What Makes Sensation Station’s Able-Me Programme So Special?
Sensation Station believes that every child is unique and is constantly learning. Throughout the years, our Able-Me Programme has successfully carried out this principle as we empower our students to build the confidence and skills necessary for them to realise their potential. Through the extraordinary learning environment that we provide along with the support of our extremely passionate staff and clinical team, our students can bloom and showcase the best, most independent and successful versions of themselves within and beyond our Able-Me classroom.
Want to learn more about Able-Me? Call us at +971-4-277-6769 or send us a message via WhatsApp (+971 56 123 5002) or email (info@sensationstation.ae) and we will be happy to assist you. You may also visit us at Ibn Battuta Gate Offices, Ground Floor, G-03, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE. We are open from Mondays through Saturdays, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
If you want to learn more about our other services, here are some helpful links:
- Click here to learn about our Paediatric Occupational Therapy services
- Click here to learn about our Paediatric Speech Therapy services