Stepping Stones Center for Autistic Spectrum Disorders
www.steppingstonesca.com.
04-363-5433
Dubai Healthcare City
Al Razi Bldg, Block “A”, Suite 2005
Dubai, UAE
Working hours: 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
Home-based therapy available from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
Established in the United States since 2001, operating in the UAE since January, 2007
Services Offered:
- Psychological Testing and Services (including diagnostic testing)
- ABA treatment/Discrete Trial Therapy
- School Shadowing
- Inclusion/Mainstream School Support Services
- Floortime
- TEACHH
- Social Skills Training
- Social Skills/Play Groups
- Speech Therapy and Assessment
- Occupational Therapy & Assessment
- Parent Training Workshops
- Professional Training Workshops
- Parent Support and Education Groups
- Professional Support Groups
How should parents contact Stepping Stones if they are seeking your services in regards to a child suspected of autism or other ASD disorder? What is the recommended process?
They should contact our office at 04-363-5433 and ask to speak with someone regarding services (Operations Manager, Clinical Assistant and/or Clinical Director-at least one of these individuals can be available). Then such individuals go over services offered and schedule an initial consultation process.
This is a free consultation once it takes place. Once this process is scheduled, clinical staff meet with parent to review entire services, discuss research that supports the field, discuss how Stepping Stones provides clinically qualified staff and discusses staff training process as well as history of Stepping Stones and the number of years we’ve been in the field.
Furthermore they answer questions the parents may have and then recommend an assessment to begin this process Comprehensive assessment includes: Psych Assessment, Behavioral Assessment, Speech Assessment and Occupational Therapy assessment. Once the assessment is scheduled and completed, the family meets with the clinicians/evaluators and reviews the detailed assessment report and goals and objectives then makes treatment recommendations based on assessment outcomes. At this time services are ready to commence.
How should parents contact you if they are seeking services for a child who has already been diagnosed with autism? What treatment options do you offer?
The process noted above would be completed, however the Psychological portion of the assessment may not be necessary if the diagnosis has already been given and provided it’s given from a reliable source where actual testing measures were used to assess the client. Then treatment services would be ready to commence of which can be a combination of all services noted in question #5.
I hope this information has been useful. Please also note that the Clinical Director and founder (myself) of all 5 branches (US & Dubai) is based in Dubai and possesses over 18 years of experience in the field of autism and is a Clinical Psychologist that is also Board Certified Behavior Analyst trained. Therefore, she is able to offer her expertise in Dubai on an ongoing basis. We provide services to over 400 families and have over 200 staff worldwide offer quality services to the Autism population and such staff are extensively trained in ABA and receive certification prior to working with clients and in addition they are educationally qualified (bachelor’s and master’s level staff).
Information provided by:
Vivian David-Nicolas, PsyD
Clinical Director
Stepping Stones Center for Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Inc.
Hello,
It is mentioned in this article that the Clinical Dirctor is based in Dubai and possesses over 18 years of experience in the field of autism and is a Clinical Psychologist that is also “Board Certified Behavior Analyst trained.” Would you please explain what that means? Is she a BCBA certified by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board or is she Not?
Thank you.
Dear Nipa,
This is the Clinical Director in reference to your inquiry above responding to you. I have a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology with 19 years of experience in the field of Autism and related disorders as well as special education in general. I have completed all coursework for the BCBA certification and plan on sitting for my exam this fall. I have other colleagues in a similar process working with us in Dubai as well as BCBA certified staff in our US locations. I hope this answers your question. Kind Regards.