Sanad Village Launches a Training Program for hospitality professionals dealing with people on the Autism Spectrum

With training sessions for families and children, the program is dedicated to employees in the aviation, hospitality, and tourism sectors

Dubai, January 12, 2022: Sanad Village, the world’s largest rehabilitation and education center for People of Determination (located in the Sustainable City, Dubai), has launched a training program for hospitality professionals including staff of aviation companies, hotels, and tourism sectors on how to properly interact with visitors with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program is delivered in collaboration with the second edition of Dubai Accessible Tourism International Summit (DATIS), held under the theme “Tourism for Everyone” with the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and with support from the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai.

Targeting staff in airports and tourism sectors, the program will introduce the proper ways for managing people of determination, in particular autistic individuals, to eventually provide them and their families with a distinguished tourism experience. In line with Dubai’s vision of providing people of determination with easy-access tourism, the program also promotes the emirate as the best and safest destination for visiting and living.

Among the various courses under the program is the services course that includes training employees of airports, hotels, and tourism facilities on the best approaches to managing and inspecting children and their parents, in order to provide them with a smooth, convenient, and enjoyable travel experience..

Additionally, the community courses will prepare children and parents for any challenges that autistic children may face in the afore-mentioned settings. Due to its considerable sensory stimulation, travelling causes many autistic individuals major psychological stressors, which can provoke undesirable behaviors such as screaming and other stress conditions. Such challenges can escalate due to the additional COVID-19-related restrictions, health checks, and extended waiting periods.

“Sanad Village embodies The Sustainable City’s commitment of working in line with Dubai’s strategy to support people of determination and the emirate’s vision. Based on our new and comprehensive world-leading approach to rehabilitating people of determination, we focused mainly on establishing virtual facilities which simulate realty to a great extent inside the Village, such as a mall, clinic, and a travel simulation center. It has become quite significant to develop the mental faculties of people of determination and qualify them for managing and engaging in the real world through simulating its actual settings, which shall eventually enable them to step up into an entirely different stage of life,” said Tasneem Abu Roza, Chief Operations Officer at Sanad Village.

The Center has several departments specialized in physiotherapy, applied behavioral therapy, functional therapy, and speech therapy. Experts in the Center organize real-world simulation workshops and training classes based on the latest technologies. The Center also has specialized training and development sections, as well as offering training services to family members on how to manage and care for various cases. Sanad Village also provides a complete internal environment that matches the outside society so the students can train and gradually integrate into life in the real world.

About Sanad Village:

Sanad Village offers a holistic, comprehensive and integrated approach towards Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) providing pathways into society for individuals and a support system that focuses on the whole family.

Sanad Village is the region’s largest centre dedicated to understanding autism and other related disorders. There is no one-size fits all. All stories are unique. Sanad is dedicated to building a strong and lasting foundation for a productive life by optimising the potential of each child.