Sada Educational Center provides preK and Kindergarten education for children with Cochlear Implants. The center is free of charge for all residents of Kuwait and teachers focus specifically on helping children to learn listening and speaking skills to prepare them for future education.
Kuwait Moms Guide: What is Sada Educational Center?
Sada Educational Center is a nonprofit organization established by Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation and under the umbrella of the Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching. It provides an integrated rehabilitation and educational program for children with cochlear implants preparing them for mainstream education.On June 2009, a contract was signed by Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching and Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation to establish Sada Center for children with cochlear implants. Sada started children and parents registration May 2011
Total Number of Children 2011-2015
2011-2012: 18
2012-2013: 12
2013-2014: 12
2014-2015: 12
Total = 54
KMG: What program or curriculum does Sada follow? What services does it follow?
Sada’s preschool program is based on a single curriculum that integrates speech and language pathology with education. Depending on the child’s evaluation, the beginning steps of the program start with the rehabilitation program known as the Language & Learning Enhancement Program. This begins with the outpatient stage of Early LLEAP. This level is followed by Foundation LLEAP, then Mid-level LLEAP and moving into Advanced LEAP.
Once the LLEAP stages are completed successfully (based on SLP evaluation), the child then is ready for Kindergarten 1 and later 2. For the LLEAP stages, the child can move to the different stages depending on progress made. In the preschool program students are exposed to a child appropriate developmental curriculum which stresses language and speech development in Arabic and particularly the Kuwaiti dialect. This curriculum helps children develop their speech and audio skills, their fine motor skills as well as skills required for oral language, mathematics, self-regulations and a positive self-image.
The preschool program also stresses development of social, emotional, cognitive and physical aspects of the child. Themes are part of the curriculum that helps develop language skills and teach the children about the world around them. All LLEAP classes have at least two speech and language pathologists for rehabilitation and a teacher and teacher’s aide for the education part.
All kindergarten classes have a teacher and a teacher’s aide. The curriculum makes learning, effective, fun and rewarding for the child. Activities provide opportunities for children to explore, use their senses, inquire, problem solve, and help them become independent learners.
KMG: Is the program open to locals and expatriates? What are the basic requirements?
Sada Center is opened to both locals and expatriates starting from the age 1.5 to 6 years old, depending on the capacity we can handle. We are a specialized center for the rehabilitation and education of children with Cochlear Implants therefore the only requirement is a child with a CI no less than 1.5 and less than 6 years old.
KMG: How does Sada help children with Cochlear Implants?
We provide children with Cochlear Implants with programs that focus on spoken and listening languages. Early Intervention level is the first step in the rehabilitation process that focuses on acquiring the basic skills of auditory and language areas which prepares the children for Foundation Leap (next level).The program concentrates on parent communication skills and how to create a rich auditory\linguistic environment for the child at home.
Next is Foundation Leap which is the first official level of integrated rehabilitation and education at Sada. This level forms the necessary foundation for children's auditory, language and speech skills alongside cognitive, social, emotion and physical development. After the child finishes Foundation Level, he will be ready to enter Mid Leap and Advanced Leaps. In these two levels, education is more involved than in Foundation Level. Once the child accomplished the goals in Advanced level, he moves to KG. At Sada, SLP’s play a more subtle role in both KG1 and KG 2. Therapy sessions are mostly individual based just to make sure that the child is on the right track. Sign language is not used as the intention is to help children “hear” and “Speak”.
KMG: Does Sada also offer training for parents and teachers?
Sada offers training for both parents and teachers. Workshops for parents are held in two semesters every year. Parents will learn how to deal with their child who received Cochlear Implants and improve his language skills. All our teachers are internally trained by our speech and language pathologists (SLP). As a long term plan we intend to have a training center for external SLPs and teachers.
KMG: What are the fees for children, parents and teachers?
All of Sada’s services are free of charge at this time.
KMG: What does an average day at Sada look like for the children?
Our programs are given to the children depending on their level. We start the day by giving the child self-help, an activity that focuses on the weakness point of the child. Listening check is very important once the child comes to the center to make sure that the device is working properly. In physical activities, the children do warm ups and many sports activities to get them ready for therapy sessions and educational activities.
The speech language therapist takes a group of children and gives them speech therapy to develop their listening and speaking skills. Education is involved in the child's program after finishing the first three leaps: Early Intervention, Foundation and Mid Leaps. The child takes education programs in Advanced leap and KG1 & KG2 in order to get ready for school. In Sada, we focus on story time because of its huge benefits on children with cochlear implants.
KMG: How many children attend the center? What are the ages? How many teachers and staff do you have and what is the child:teacher ratio?
Currently Enrolled Children:
Age Children
3 yrs 2
4 yrs 5
5 yrs 6
6 yrs 6
Our staff is divided into SLPs, Teachers and teacher aides all that interact with the child. Child:teacher ratio on average depends on their level is
KMG: What is Sada's philosophy of education?
As stated previously Sada is a center that offers integrated learning for children with Cochlear Implants. In other words, words, speech therapy as well as education is combined on a daily basis aiding children’s optimum progress. Since educators and speech language pathologists (SLP’s) work together, educator’s goals are established according to language necessities required for each child’s development. As language acquisition is a priority when it comes to children with (CI) speech therapy sessions are consistent and dense throughout Foundation and Mid Leaps. Consequently, when the child escalates and acquires language, then basic education skills are integrated. As an education team we strive to establish essential skills that children can use and build on when they go to schools. Thus, preparing children to grow academically after they leave the center is crucial.
To learn more, visit their website at http://www.sadacenter.org/
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