Qatar

There are a number of schools in Qatar catering to children with special needs and offering services to the handicapped and mentally impaired. This type of special education began in 1974 with the establishment of a governmental Special Education Section. Additionally, the Ministry of Education operates special needs schools for the deaf and blind, for example, the Shafallah Center, which opened in September 1999. Funded by the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the National Committee for Special Needs, the Shafallah Center is a private, nonprofit institution. Units at this school include a Family Support Unit, an Early Intervention Unit, miscellaneous school units, a Paramedical Support Unit, and an Instructional Media Unit, along with a library. Also planned are a school unit for autistic children as well as prevocational and vocational units.

Other options for Qatari students outside the formal schooling sector include distance education initiatives, cultural centers, and centers for adult learning. There are also a number of short educational and training courses being offered in Qatar made available through either local or visiting companies. Training and community programs are also offered through various cultural clubs in Qatar.