DUBAI // Seven-year-old Ali al Zamani has been using his iPad for the past six months to tell his teacher and classmates what he did at the weekend with his family. His mother says he likes using it for fun as well as for learning.
"He loves to learn new vocabulary," says Fatima al Alili of her special-needs son. "I did some online research and found that there are a lot of applications for children with speech and language difficulties."
Various types of software and hardware are now available to help people with disabilities communicate better, giving them confidence and enabling them to have the everyday personal interactions that speech enables.
Ali uses the Proloquo2Go programme, which allows him to select from symbols and provides a text-to-speech voice, and his teacher at the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre is pleased with how far he has come in the past two years.
"We first started using Makaton [a language programme using speech, signs and symbols] but now he can use the iPad, as well as a touchscreen laptop with Mind Express software, to practise his vocabulary," says Veerle Oben, a speech therapist and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) project co-ordinator at the centre.
Another popular tool is GoTalk, which is a series of devices that includes message keys and recording abilities that children can use.
Recognising the vital role that AAC has played in helping children with disabilities learn, the centre invited a leading AAC specialist from the US, Dr Caroline Musselwhite, to give a three-day workshop for therapists from special needs centres across Dubai. Parents were also invited to a special evening session to get advice on how computers and other devices can be used as teaching tools.
"We need to be pragmatic as educators and parents by choosing technology well and modelling it in a fun, real and interactive way," says Dr Musselwhite, who has more than 25 years of experience working with students with significant disabilities. "Children today are what we call digital natives, so using technology effectively can allow them to become active learners instead of being passive."
Delphine Watson, who has a seven-year-old son, Rio, attended the special evening session for parents and, like Mrs al Alili, found it reassuring to learn about the different technologies and methods available. "I bought an iPad and I can tell that my son enjoys using it. He loves to listen to his audio books, we download his favourite songs and we can take it out with us."
Camille Matta, the managing director of the AAC group Consort World, supplies a host of assistive technology targeted at children with disabilities in the UAE and across the Middle East. Some of the devices are language-independent, allowing parents to record messages in their native tongue for their child. "Present day technologies can give a child with speech difficulties the confidence to initiate conversation with strangers," Mr Matta says. "We are trying to provide the technology in Arabic for other devices because we believe it is important in this part of the world."
Therapists and providers agree that properly assessing the needs of each student and recommending technology that taps into their potential is key to helping special-needs children develop.
Mohammed Fteiha, the head of the Dubai Autism Centre's speech communication unit, says assistive technology is beneficial for autistic children, as long as it takes into consideration each child individually. "Parents can seek advice to find out whether something is suitable for their child," says Mr Fteiha.
However, some of the technology is expensive, keeping it out of reach of many families; the top-of-the-line GoTalk Express 32, for example, can cost upwards of Dh3,000. "We want to find a way of helping," Mr Matta says. "We would like to create a wish list for the community to link parents with limited incomes to donors who can provide funding."
Among the children who have made significant progress at the Rashid centre is Stephen Gunaratnam, a five-year-old from Sri Lanka who is keen to ask for things with his GoTalk device and likes to participate in group sessions. Tania Dos Santos, his speech therapist, says he has outgrown the need for simpler devices and is now using a more advanced machine with aplomb.
"Stephen is non-verbal but he is very expressive," Ms Dos Santos says. "He started with two switches that would give him options, but he has now moved on to GoTalk 4. He is much more confident, and at times he can even be cheeky."
Some fun applications are available free online and can be used as motivators for a child, Dr Musselwhite says.
balqabbani@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
Abu Dhabi race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,400m
6pm: Liwa Oasis (PA) Group 2 | Dh300,000 | 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 (PA) Group 3 | Dh300,000 | 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Dir: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson
3/5
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
More from Aya Iskandarani
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 (Gundogan 56')
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Solomon 69')
The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make
When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.
“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.
This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).
|
Age
|
$250 a month
|
$500 a month
|
$1,000 a month
|
|
25
|
$640,829
|
$1,281,657
|
$2,563,315
|
|
35
|
$303,219
|
$606,439
|
$1,212,877
|
|
45
|
$131,596
|
$263,191
|
$526,382
|
|
55
|
$44,351
|
$88,702
|
$177,403
|
MATCH INFO
Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians won by three runs
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 77')
Everton 1 (Lindelof 36' og)
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Fanney Khan
Producer: T-Series, Anil Kapoor Productions, ROMP, Prerna Arora
Director: Atul Manjrekar
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rajkummar Rao, Pihu Sand
Rating: 2/5
The Porpoise
By Mark Haddon
(Penguin Random House)
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Remaining fixtures
- August 29 – UAE v Saudi Arabia, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
- September 5 – Iraq v UAE, Amman, Jordan (venue TBC)
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Sting & Shaggy
44/876
(Interscope)
