The Arabian Gulf University (AGU) doctoral students from the Department of Special Education’s Learning Difficulties and Developmental Disabilities programme have conducted a series of workshops at the Shafallah Centre for People with Disabilities in the State of Qatar to explore strategies for reducing anxiety among parents of individuals with developmental disabilities. The visit formed part of the department’s field training curriculum under the supervision of Dr Maryam Al Sherawi, Professor of Special Education.

The programme included a “Once Upon a Time” workshop for the centre’s teachers and specialists, focusing on the use of social stories in special education for students with intellectual disabilities. Sessions to exchange expertise with the centre’s staff featured a lecture on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) delivered in collaboration with the Educational Services Department’s guidance team. Parents, who praised the content and delivery of the sessions, recommended extending the workshop to a larger cohort to maximise its impact.

The doctoral students also toured the centre’s Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Department, observing its production workshop where students create agricultural products and thermal‑printed artworks, then package and market them within the Qatari market. In addition, they visited the physiotherapy and occupational therapy units, as well as the sensory‑enhancement facility for pupils with autism, which contributes to reducing their anxiety.

Dr Al Sherawi said the visit aimed to broaden the postgraduate students’ horizons by providing direct engagement with real‑world practices in the field of developmental disabilities, thereby enhancing their academic and professional skills.

This activity is part of the field applications course offered by the Learning Difficulties and Developmental Disabilities programme, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between AGU and specialist community institutions in disability care, enrich students’ competencies and support the development of both educational and social sectors.

The cooperation between AGU and the Shafallah Centre is designed to reinforce practical training in postgraduate programmes and connect students with professional and field realities, achieving an integration of theoretical knowledge and hands‑on practice within care and rehabilitation institutions.

Parents and teachers participated actively throughout the programme, which concluded with the distribution of participation certificates. The visit generated several recommendations from the centre, notably organising workshops for a broader group of Shafallah Centre members and formalising relations through a memorandum of understanding between AGU and the centre. 

The centre also welcomed the prospect of doctoral students undertaking the practical component of their studies on site, fostering an ongoing exchange of expertise to extend the benefits of this partnership.