Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Dr. Lamis Mamdouh Baowaidan is an assistant professor in special education at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah. She is also the program director of the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis at the university.

A Dar Al-Hekma alumna, Baowaidan obtained her PhD in

Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University, New York, in 2016. In the Kingdom, she had her early education at Al-Manarat Schools in Jeddah. Before moving to Columbia for postgraduate studies in behavior analysis, she graduated from Dar Al-Hekma in 2007 with a BA in special education with a focus on learning disabilities.

Baowaidan has had extensive training and working experience in renowned institutions within the Kingdom and abroad and she is member of several professional organizations.

Saudi Gazette spoke to Baowaidan to find out why she chose special education for a career and the challenges she faced in the field. Excerpts:

Why did you choose this specialization?

Because I love children so much, especially those with special needs. I have great passion about everything relating to human behavior, learning patterns and skill acquisition.

What is Applied Behavior Analysis?

It is a discipline of behavior analysis, which is based on the science of learning and behavior to understand how behavior works and how it is affected by the environment. It is also based on the use of technology that can help introduce the needed change to behavior.

Is there a difference between what is offered to children with special needs inside and outside the Kingdom?

First of all, members of the public in other countries are more aware of the rights of integration for this category into society and the assistance it should be provided for them including care and protection. Organizations in other countries assist families who have children with special needs and provide them with moral and material support to alleviate their suffering and reduce their financial burdens. There are several programs and services available for this category abroad as well as facilities run by specialized staff.

What kind of difficulties did you encounter?

My biggest challenge in the field has been raising public awareness of the importance of the scientifically proven intervention programs such as applied behavior analysis compared with the most common intervention approaches which have not been proven scientifically.

Why do you think there is a shortage of accredited therapists and trainers in the Kingdom?

The main reason can be attributed to the fact that this field is relatively new in our society, besides only recently have we started to be aware of the importance of intervention and therapy programs although they have been used by the West since 1960s. Fortunately, the situation has changed rapidly and more Saudis are studying this specialization at the most prestigious universities around the world. Another reason is the stringent and difficult requirements and conditions set by the international accreditation body, which make many hesitate before venturing into this specialization.

What is the best age to apply such programs to children?

The program can be applied to children at 18 months old. There are many studies that support early intervention and stress its effectiveness for children at this age. Children respond to it at this age.

What is your advice to families who have autistic children?

My advice is never to listen to negative opinion and wrong pieces of advice, which might be expressed in good intention from relative and close people. Families should always consult specialists because early intervention is instrumental to improving the condition of such cases. Families also have the right to know the accredited qualifications of specialists and therapists and the authorities that accredit them. Most importantly, families should never compare the condition of their autistic child with that of another child, instead they should focus on skill acquisition no matter how simple the skill is.

How can we change the perceptions claiming that applied behavior analysis strategies are only for autistic children or behavior problems?

I try to change these perceptions and explain to people that many studies have shown that the applied behavior analysis is effective and can change undesired behavior for children and adults alike. Another perception is that the applied behavior analysis is very stringent and trains children to respond in certain way when they want a piece of candy or a toy. This is not true. The analysis is based on the principles of positive enhancement, which enables children to learn a new skill or behavior in a positive way. There are numerous examples for applying the analysis in different fields not related to autism such as learning, management of organizational behavior, acquisition of language and psychology, etc.

As a specialist, what are the most difficult challenges facing autistic children in the Kingdom?

In my opinion, one of the hardest challenges facing an autistic child is effective integration in society and access to all rights and services which the child needs because the child might not get access to the same services other non-autisitc children have access to. There is a lack of awareness among members of society regarding how they should accept an autistic child and help him integrate in society.

What about government efforts in this field?

One of the positive things that happened in the Kingdom lately is the establishment of Prince Muhammad bin Salman programs for autistic children in several cities Kingdom-wide. There is, however, a pressing need for more effective programs and more qualified Saudi cadre to implement these programs. We also need a national commission or accrediting and monitoring the performance of therapists and specialist in accordance with pertinent standards and rules that regulate the practice of this profession in order to protect families against engaging in wrong practices.

What has the Department of Special Education at Dar Al-Hekma given to society? What are your future plans?

I contributed to the establishment of a master program, the first of its kind in the Arab World, for analyzing applied behavior. It is a two-year program and includes field training as per international standards. I have some studies and research that I will publish in the future. I work with my accredited colleagues on establishing an accredited national commission that will lay down regulations and procedures for practicing in this field. I also continue to raise public awareness of the importance of the applied behavior analysis whenever I participate in local and international conferences. I also train families who have children with special needs how to deal with them.