News & Events

Two Days of ‘Excellence of Learning’ in Lebanon

21st November 2010. London/Beirut.  SITSE has now returned from the Middle East where it presented their second conference in conjunction with Idad, Friends of the Disabled, at the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Lebanon.  It happened to be on two beautiful, sunny and warm days in mid November that a group of professionals, students and leaders in the field of education, therapy and further education gathered for an inspiring conference on ‘Learning through Sensory Integration’ in the stunning setting of the  Idad centre in the hills of Mechref near Beirut, overlooking the sea.

The two days were filled with learning and discussion about researched methods and existing practices and strategies to support children and people with special educational needs (SEN) to learn through Sensory Integration. Key speaker, Melanne Maddalene Randall, presented with great skill and charm her insights of 30 years of study, research and practice as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist.  Mel has opened a number of specialist OT practices (Maximum Potential)  around the globe  and she is one of the few experts in this field worldwide.

The theme of Sensory Integration was supported and embraced by SITSE speakers Dirk Flower  (Educational Psychologist at Flower Associates) , Nick Rees ( Head of Abingdon House School),  Claudine Hakim- Dedeyan  (SEN Consultant and Deputy at International School of London in Surrey) and Sonja Adam ( Head of Primary Years Special Education at ICS and SITSE Manager).   Dirk Flower looked into the matter of Sensory Integration by highlighting issues of children and young people with behavioural difficulties and by giving tips on how to deal with these challenges. He also discussed the subject of mindset, its impact on behaviour and the challenges of inner distractions, i.e. emotional unrest, in contrast to sensory-based sensitivities, e.g. towards touch, light, or noise.

Nick Rees and Claudine Hakim-Dedeyan presented their case study on Sensory Integration at Primary and Secondary schools in London, and provided many examples of how Sensory Integration can look in practice within different school settings. The audience welcomed much the visual, auditory and kinaesthetic experience of special toys which were passed around giving participants the joy of a sensory break.  Also, the presentation of a sensory corner in the classroom, not only for Primary school children, met positive response in the audience. 

Another interesting angle on Sensory Integration was a presentation on ‘Classrooms without Walls’ by Melanne Maddalene Randall and Sonja Adam, which shed light on the advantages of learning outside the school building and using the world and its fascinating resources, e.g. landscapes, sceneries, historic and cultural sights, as a classroom in its broadest sense. Not only does the world provide an extremely stimulating sensory experience, it also has the potential to help a person to balance and integrate the experiences and to develop new skills, e.g. in the area of independence and life skills. Trips with Skola Travel & Learn have proven that participants have gained greater team-spirit, empathy, confidence, self-esteem, and emotional maturity on their way of becoming ‘who they are’, a goal being shared with many holistically oriented educationalists and therapists. 

The audience also had the opportunity to learn about Sensory Integarion services being offered by the Lebanese University presented by Chafica Abou Mjahed, and about Sensory Integration being practised with disabled children at the Idad Centre. Nisrine Abou Jaoude, Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Specialist, gave a wonderful insight of this new therapeutic approach for children with learning disabilities at the Idad Centre by presenting a case-study with video-clips of her assessment work at the school.

The audience was an amazing group of individuals, with great interest and curiosity, not only in the lively Question & Answer sessions and during break times, but throughout the event. SITSE and Idad were very impressed and they felt particularly honoured by the visit of the Lebanese Minister of Industry, Mr Abraham  Dedeyan, and the Attaché of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Dr. Kerbage.

The event was very professionally hosted by the staff of Idad and members of the Friends of Disabled Association, in their fantastic conference facilities.  All staff and many students actively supported this event and made it so successful through their hard work in the frontline and behind the scenes, e.g.  with administrative and technical matters, in the kitchen when preparing mouth-watering dishes and catering for the over one hundred participants on each day, and at the reception when greeting people or answering their questions.

Special thanks go to Rita Merhej , Director of Idad, Dr Moussa Cherafeddine , President  of Friends of the Disabled Association , and Claudine Hakim-Dedeyan , SITSE’s Chair of Trustees,  through their endless efforts and liaison to make this event come true, and to facilitate the opportunity for specialist professionals from East and West to meet and learn about how to improve the services for children and young people with SEN. SITSE is grateful to have taken an active part in this event , to have been  able to promote best practices in the field of SEN and to call for more inclusion worldwide. 

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'Learning through Sensory Integration’ Conference 2010  in Lebanon

Press Release - Arabic

‘28th October 2010 - London/Beirut. SITSE (Skola International Trust for  Special  Education) takes great pleasure in announcing their second conference in Lebanon on 12th and 13th November 2010. The conference will be in conjunction with Idad/Friends of Disabled Association in Lebanon under the leadership of Dr Moussa Charafeddine (President of FDA) and Rita Merhej (Director of Idad Center). 

After cancellation of the planned conference earlier this year, due to the volcanic alert and travel disruptions around the globe, the November dates have met again high interest of professionals in the area of Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East.                                                               

The conference focuses on ‘Learning through Sensory Integration’ and the main speaker will be Melanne Maddalane Randall, Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist, a Specialist in Sensory Integration and Director of the clinic Maximum Potential in London, UK. The conference will be facilitated by Claudine Hakim-Dedeyan, SEN expert, Deputy Head of the International School of London in Surrey (ISL), and Chair of SITSE.  The presentations will be assisted by Sonja Adam, Manager and Consultant at SITSE and Head of Primary Special Education at the International Community School (ICS) in London/UK.

Nick Rees, Head of Abingdon House School (AHS), a specialist school for children with SEN in London and Claudine Hakim-Dedeyan, will present a case study on Sensory Integration at a primary and a secondary special school in London. Dirk Flower, Educational Psychologist, will contribute to the event by providing the latest ideas and strategies to help children with special educational needs (SEN), in particular those with challenging behaviours, to progress and thrive personally, socially and academically.

Participants will receive an insight about SITSE and some background of its ideas and aims in the world of SEN. The conference includes a presentation on ‘Classrooms without Walls’, in which participants are taken on a virtual sensory tour around the globe with children and people with and without SEN.

The conference team welcomes Chafica Abou Mjahed from the Lebanese University,  who will provide an insight about Sensory Integration services in Lebanon, and Nisrine Abou Jaoudeh, Occupational Therapist, who will speak about the implementation of Sensory Integration strategies for children with SEN at the Idad Center.

The conference includes question & answer sessions as well as networking opportunities for delegates.  Every delegate will receive an attendance certificate at the end of the conference.  The conference promises to be an exciting event bringing together experts and professionals in the area of SEN at an international level, sharing and learning together to continuously extend their knowledge and understanding of SEN to improve their services for children and young people with SEN.

For details and further information, please contact Rita Merhej in Beirut on rita_merhej5@hotmail.com or Sonja Adam in London on info@sitse.org.

Flyer - English
Invite - Arabic

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Lebanon Conference on 23/24 April postponed until further notice!

20 April 2010 - London/Beirut. SITSE regrets to have to postpone their Lebanon conference to a later date, possibly in autumn, due to the volcano alert causing travel disruptions all around the globe. We will announce the new date as soon as it will be re-scheduled.

For details please contact:
conferences@sitse.org
www.friendsfordisabled.org.lb
or call: 0044 (0)7944 359822

SITSE goes 'Middle East'

12 April 2010 - London/Beirut. SITSE (Skola International Trust for Special Education) is looking forward to its 2nd conference 'Learning through Sensory Integration' coming up on 23rd and 24th April 2010. It will be hosted at its partner organisation I'dad / Friends of Disabled Association in Lebanon with Dr Moussa Charafeddine (President of FDA) and Rita Merhej (Director of I’dad Center).                                                                     

Claudine Hakim-Dedeyan, SEN expert and Chair of SITSE, will facilitate the event and represent the Trust. Key speaker is Mel Randall, Senior Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Specialist in Sensory Integration as well as Director of the clinic Maximum Potential in London, UK. Philip Hurd, Headteacher of the International Community School, and Dirk Flower, Educational Psychologist, will contribute to the event by providing latest ideas and strategies to help children with special educational needs (SEN) to progress and thrive personally, socially and academically. Occupational Therapist, Nisrine Abou Jaoudeh, will speak about the implementation of Sensory Integration strategies at the I'dad Center for children with SEN.

The conference has met high interest by professionals throughout the Middle East. You can register for the event until 20th April at the latest. Please contact Sonja Adam in London on info@sitse.org or Rita Merhej in Beirut on rita_merhej5@hotmail.com or info@friendsfordisabled.org.lb. 

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SITSE Special Perspectives Conference: A day of learning and fun

18 March 2009 - SITSE is now celebrating the success of its first Special Perspectives Conference, which took place on the 5th of February at the offices of Shearman and Sterling in the square mile.   The conference was a long time in the making and there was a great deal of excitement when the day finally arrived.  Delegates attended from schools and institutions all over greater London to hear the panel of speakers address the latest research on a diverse range of topics within the field of special educational needs.

The conference focused on key strategies to help every child succeed, presented by some of London's most renowned professionals in the field of special needs, reaching out to head teachers, Special Educational Needs (SEN) Coordinators, Educators and Supporters, Therapists, Parents, Local Education Authorities, and Relocation Agents.

Delegates heard speakers such as ed psych Dirk Flower, and head teacher Nick Rees, along with paediatric occupational therapist Melanne Randall discuss topics as diverse as post traumatic stress occasioned by bullying, strategies for helping children with dyslexia and how many children with SEN can benefit from sensory integration therapy.  Head teacher Philip Hurd and school psychologist Alan Andrew led the way in international education, and Philip included a very thought provoking breakout session in which delegates were asked to identify a trait within themselves as their own SEN, and to articulate how the trait could be channeled productively. 
 
Delegates and speakers were then able to mingle in a drinks and canapés reception following the event, where they continued enthusing about the presentations. All the delegates both enjoyed the conference and rated it highly for quality, value and content.  One director of a major learning institution in London commented 'One would never know that this was a first time conference. It was extremely well done.'

SITSE is very proud of the success of its first conference, and is already planning for next year’s Special Perspectives, where we will host more exciting speakers at the cutting edge of research, education and therapy for special educational needs.

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Special Needs Educators Ask: Are we Doing Enough? Conference Will Target Inclusion, Best Practice

(PRWEB) January 28, 2009 -- Some of London's most renowned professionals in the field of special needs believe we should be doing more to help children succeed. Psychologist Dirk Flower and Occupational Therapist Mel Randall, along with a host of high flying educators from London's top schools, believe there is much more that can be done to help children with special needs overcome their difficulties, both at school and in the wider world. The professionals will be talking about the latest thinking, research and best practice in the field of SEN at the first Special Perspectives Conference on February 5, organised by the Skola International Trust for Special Education in London/UK. The two are worried that we are not doing enough to educate our children into a healthy learning mindset, and failing to address sensory issues which often underlie a range of learning difficulties.

"We must actively change the mindset of vulnerable children to allow them to access learning, both in and out of school," says Flower, Director of Flower Associates, specialists in child and educational psychology. "We must recognise that for a host of reasons - previous academic failure, bereavement, bullying and more - children can sometimes develop a mindset which is akin to post traumatic stress. We need to change that, to help children develop resilience and coping skills, so that they can access learning. We call this developing a learning mindset, and it absolutely should be part of best practice in working with children with SEN."

In addition, recent reports have shown that schools are failing to effectively address the underlying problems of children with SEN. Very often, these problems can be sensory. Mel Randall, director of Maximum Potential, a paediatric Occupational and Physiotherapy practice, thinks that sensory issues are a contributor to many learning difficulties:

"A child with sensory issues experiences the world in a different way, and this has an impact on their learning. They often present as having learning difficulties. Sensory issues can mean a range of things: tactile defensiveness, auditory defensiveness, vestibular issues, constantly seeking movement or avoidance of movement activities, difficulty with motor planning activities, as well as difficulty with gross and fine motor skills. By addressing these problems you can help children immeasurably in their everyday lives."

The subject of recent controversy in news reports, dyslexia, will also feature at the Special Perspectives Conference, with Nick Rees, Head of London private school Abingdon House, speaking on maximising opportunities for dyslexic children to succeed. "In my experience as an educator, dyslexia is a very real problem. As educators, the way forward is to take a considered approach to dyslexia in order to keep it from becoming a stumbling block in children's lives."

The Special Perspectives Conference, hosted by Shearman & Sterling L.L.P., will also feature presentations on dyslexia, individual learning plans and broadening the scope of SEN teaching through travel. There will be breakaway workshop sessions and an opportunity to mingle with other professionals in the field at a drinks reception concluding the event. The Special Perspectives Conference will take place on the 5th of February from 2 until 7:30 pm at the offices of Shearman & Sterling LLP, Broadgate West, 9 Appold Street, London EC2A 2AP, UK.

If you would like more information about the Special Perspectives Conference, please call Sonja Adam at the Skola International Trust for Special Education (SITSE) at +44 (0)7944 359822.

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