AGU researcher evaluates transitional services

Manama, May 9 (BNA): A graduate researcher at the Arabian Gulf University called for a comprehensive evaluation of all service centers for the disabled, whether public or private, to find out the strengths and the weaknesses of their treatment, and build on them. He stressed on the need for the transitional service centres for people with intellectual disabilities through constant communication with parents to involve them in developing and implementing Transitional Plans. Researcher Bader Nasser Al-Tahir in his thesis, which he discussed recently in the learning difficulties programme at the Higher Studies College in the Arabian Gulf University as part of the requirements for obtaining a master's degree, titled "Evaluation of transitional services given for adults with intellectual disablity according to international standards with the parents' estimates", stated that his study was aimed to discover the estimates of parents and workers in services provided for people with intellectual disabilities according to international standards, and recommending to establish policies for transitional services centers for people with disabilities in accordance with international standards, especially the standards of the Council for Exceptional Children, as these standards have universal acceptance and applicability. The results of the study concluded that focus should be on developing the financial skills of people with intellectual disabilities. Skills like using credit cards, completing bank transactions, to sell or buy should also be developed and not just be concentrated on developing eating skills, dressing and taking care of the house. Moreover, government institutions, banks, etc should also be equipped and prepared to receive people with intellectual disabilities and finish their own transactions. The role of civil society institutions specialized in the care of the intellectually disabled people should also be activated in this matter in order to help transitional service institutions for people with intellectual disabilities in teaching more diverse set of skills to the technological development in society. The discussion committee consisted of Professor of Psychology and Special Education participating in AGU as supervisor, Dr. Maryam Al-Shirawi; associate Professor of Psychology and Special Education, Dr. Saad Al-Khamisi as co-supervisor; with Professor of Evaluation, Measurement and Research Methodology at AGU, Dr. Abdel Alsamadi as an internal examiner, and Professor of Psychology at Ain Shams University, Dr. Mohammed Behairy as an external examiner.