MANAMA, Bahrain — The Bahrain Naval Support Activity (NSA), in collaboration with the Bahrain Association for Children with Behavioral and Communication Disorders (Alia for Early Intervention), hosted Dr. Steven Shore, visiting professor of special education at Adelphi University, on Feb. 28.
The event gave Sailors, parents, professionals and caregivers a special opportunity to engage with Dr Shore, who is not only an expert in the field but also has autism spectrum disorder himself.
“It is gratifying to see the U.S. Navy working to increase awareness, acceptance and appreciation of individuals on the autism spectrum as we work together to make it the norm, not the exception, for people with autism to lead fulfilling and productive lives,” said Dr. Shore.
He led two sessions during his visit: the first involved staff members and focused on interacting with students with autism from an educator’s perspective, while the second involved sailors and their families and focused on simulating and understanding what people with autism go through on a daily basis.
Dr Rania Al Khalifa, Director of Alia Early Intervention and Alia Rehabilitation Centre, thanked NSA Bahrain for opening its doors and welcomed future opportunities for collaboration to further raise awareness of autism across cultures.
“By facilitating interaction and dialogue, we aimed to increase the understanding and perspective of people with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental and neurodevelopmental disorders,” Dr Al Khalifa said. “Together, we are committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive community for children with behavioural and communication challenges.”
Benjamin F. Wright III, NSA Bahrain Facility Program Director, was excited to learn from Dr. Shore both as a professional and a parent and to understand his unique perspective on ASD and the stigma surrounding it.
“My 3-and-a-half-year-old was diagnosed with autism. When I came here I didn’t know where to go, who to talk to, it was all new to me,” Wright said. [Dr. Shore] “When he came here, I read his books, watched his videos and followed him for a while. He’s a big guy in the community, so it was a godsend to have him here.”
Capt. Zakaria Aperauchi, commander of Bahrain’s National Security Agency, said he was grateful for the opportunity to share knowledge, support local organizations and increase communication skills and mutual understanding between communities.
“Interactions with autism and those on the autism spectrum are under-discussed in the Navy,” Apeloach said. “We wanted to leverage Dr. Shore’s visit, background and expertise to better inform and equip our staff, Sailors and their families on this very important topic. We benefited greatly from this conversation and look forward to future engagements and opportunities with our U.S. and host nation partners.”
NSA Bahrain’s mission is to support U.S. and Allied maritime operations throughout the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations by ensuring the security of ships, aircraft, and tenants aboard NSA Bahrain and assigned contingents. NSA Bahrain provides efficient and effective shore services to keep the fleet operational, the warfighter operational, and support families with honor, courage, and commitment.
Date taken: 29 February 2024 Date posted: 29 February 2024 06:28 Story ID: 464962 Location: Manama, BH Web views: 127 Downloads: 0 Public domain
This piece, “Special Education Professor Visits NSA Bahrain,” is by Ameera Al-Kooheji, identified by DVIDS and must comply with the restrictions set forth at https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
