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- Mon- Sun 8.30AM – 7PM
- +971 553119743
- +971 54 329 1664
- austincntr@gmail.com
10+ Years History of Pediatric Therapy | 3000+ Children Served in UAE
At Austin Center, Al Nahda, Sharjah, our pediatric occupational therapists help children develop the essential skills needed for everyday life, learning, play and independence. Through individualized, play-based therapy, we support children in improving gross motor skills, fine motor skills, sensory processing, cognitive skills, self-care, handwriting skills and participation in daily activities, empowering them to reach their full potential.
4.9/5 Rating
Trusted by 2,000+ families
10+ Years
Pediatric care
20+ Years
Led an early Us BACB-certified Behavior Analyst
3000+
Children support
Multi
Disciplinary team approach
Dubai + Sharjah
Multiple UAE Branches (Alnahda Sharjah & Karama)
Parent-first
Family-centered guidance
Occupational Therapy (OT) for children is a specialized pediatric therapy that helps children build the skills needed for everyday life. It focuses on improving fine motor skills, sensory processing, attention, self-care, independence, and cognitive skills such as problem-solving, memory, planning, and task organization, while supporting children with autism, developmental delays, learning difficulties, and other developmental challenges in reaching important milestones.
At Austin Center, Al Nahda, Sharjah, families often seek pediatric OT when their child experiences difficulties with handwriting, coordination, sensory processing, self-care, play skills, cognitive skills such as attention, memory, problem-solving, and executive functioning or participation at home and in school.
Teachers often mention various handwriting problems or that the child didn’t seem to pay attention in class. Children also have trouble buttoning their clothes or holding a spoon at home.
A lot of parents who travel between Sharjah, Al Nahda Dubai and Al Qusais are saying they do not have enough time alone to make decisions about therapy.
We have families who didn’t seek help or were told that it would “grow out” and now they regret not seeking help earlier.
When to Seek Occupational Therapy
Author " Asha Susan, BACB (USA) & IBA Certified Behavior Analyst Email - asha.austin@gmail.com
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a specialized healthcare service that enables children to develop the skills needed to participate successfully in everyday activities. It focuses on enhancing fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, attention, self-regulation, self-care, and functional independence based on each child's individual strengths and needs.
Through evidence-based, play-based, and goal-oriented interventions, occupational therapists help children improve their ability to perform daily tasks such as writing, feeding, dressing, grooming, playing, and participating in school and social activities. OT aims to build confidence, promote independence, and support children in reaching their full potential at home, in school, and within the community.
Occupational therapy is beneficial for children who experience difficulties with everyday functional skills that affect their participation at home, school, and within the community. A child may benefit from occupational therapy if they have challenges with fine motor skills, handwriting, grasping and manipulating objects, coordination, sensory processing, attention and concentration, or self-care activities such as feeding, dressing, and grooming.
Occupational therapy also supports children with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), developmental delays, sensory processing difficulties, and learning challenges. Intervention focuses on enhancing functional independence, improving participation in daily activities, and promoting success in educational and social environments.
Occupational therapy supports children in developing the motor, sensory, cognitive, and functional skills required for successful participation in everyday activities. It focuses on improving hand function, postural control, coordination, balance, sensory processing, and self-regulation to enhance independence in self-care, play, learning, and school-related tasks. Occupational therapy empowers children to build confidence, achieve greater independence, and actively engage in meaningful activities at home, school, and within their community.
Early occupational therapy helps children build confidence, independence, and improved functional skills in everyday life.
Brain Development & Neuroplasticity Window -Early childhood is a key period of rapid neuroplasticity resulting in development of motor skills, sensory processing and coordination.
Early Detection Advantage -Detecting developmental delays early in Occupational Therapy Sharjah prior to school age helps improve motor, sensory and associated functional outcomes.
Improved Fine Motor Skills -Early intervention of delays supports the development of handwriting, grasp, dressing/undressing and manipulation of objects.
Better School Readiness -Children become ready for school tasks such as writing, cutting, attention control and structure based academic activities.
Stronger Gross Motor Development -Therapy improves posture, coordination, movement, confidence and balance.
Sensory Processing Improvement- Children learn to respond and communicate with the environment related to touch, sound, movement, and other stimuli.
Confidence & Independence Building -Early intervention to delays reduces frustration and builds confidence in children and adolescents to complete daily functional tasks.
Functional Daily Living Skills -Children are developing independence to fully dress, eat, practice good hygiene and be ready to complete routine based activities.
Reduced Long-Term Developmental Difficulties -Early occupational therapy reduces the likelihood of long-term motor, sensory, and learning related difficulties.
Parent Involvement Role -Parent coaching ensures the parent can provide consistent reinforcement of therapy strategies at home and at home the child continues to develop functional skills and improved outcomes.
Sharjah Early Support Access- Families in Sharjah can benefit from structured early intervention programs tailored to their specific developmental needs.
Austin Center Approach- At Austin Center Al Nahda Sharjah early intervention is a combination of assessment, therapy and parent education for developmental support.
Many families come to us after trying different approaches and often tell us they were looking for clearer guidance and more coordinated support.
Easily accessible for families in Al Nahda, Al Taawun, Al Majaz, Al Qasimia, and Abu Shagara, reducing travel stress for regular therapy sessions and follow-ups.
Integrated support including occupational therapy, speech therapy, behavior therapy, and developmental psychology for complete child development management.
Therapists coordinate with Sharjah nurseries and schools to support handwriting, attention, classroom behavior, and functional participation goals.
Parents are trained with practical, evidence-based OT strategies to improve daily routines such as dressing, feeding, handwriting, and self-care skills at home.
Led by qualified pediatric therapists working within internationally recognized frameworks for autism, developmental delay, and sensory processing challenges.
Child-centered, play-based occupational therapy sessions designed to improve engagement, motor planning, coordination, and sensory regulation.
Focus on early identification of sensory, motor, and developmental delays to support better long-term independence and functional outcomes.
Each child receives a personalized OT plan based on assessment, developmental level, and measurable functional goals.
Families are actively involved in goal setting, therapy planning, and progress reviews to ensure consistent improvement at home and clinic.
All therapies are coordinated across specialists to ensure consistent, structured, and holistic developmental support.
A safe, engaging, and child-friendly environment that encourages participation, confidence building, and independence in daily activities.
See why thousands of parents trust our specialized, multidisciplinary approach over standard clinical settings when it comes to their child's development.
| What parents compare | Austin Center | Typical clinics |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatric-focused experience | 10+ years specialized pediatric OT, speech & developmental therapy in UAE | General mixed-age therapy practice |
| Clinical leadership | 20+ years US BACB-certified senior consultant-led clinical oversight | Junior therapists or rotating supervision |
| Children supported | 3000+ pediatric cases across Dubai & Sharjah | Limited documented or tracked caseload |
| Parent coaching | Fully integrated into every therapy plan with home strategies | Often optional or separately provided |
| School coordination | Active collaboration with Sharjah & Dubai nurseries and schools | Rare or informal coordination |
| Multidisciplinary team | OT, speech therapy, behavior therapy & psychology under one integrated system | Smaller, fragmented service setups |
| Senior Supervision | Structured clinical reviews every 8–12 weeks for progress optimization | Inconsistent or minimal supervision |
| School readiness & mainstreaming | Strong outcomes in functional independence and school transition | Limited measurable developmental outcomes |
| Therapy efficiency | Goal-oriented plans for faster functional progress and reduced duration | Longer therapy cycles with slower progress |
| Early intervention approach | Strong emphasis on early developmental screening and risk identification | Often delayed, reactive referrals |
The first meeting is relaxed and non-judgemental, exploring concerns about child’s motor, sensory, attention and life independence.
A play-based, evidence-based assessment of fine motor, gross motor, sensory function, self-care and functional performance in line with pediatric occupational therapy practice and models such as American Occupational Therapy Association’s guidelines.
A structured, outcome-oriented therapy plan developed based on developmental assessment and testing results with focus on the child’s developmental level and primary functional needs such as handwriting, dressing, feeding and attention.
Occupation based sessions for improved fine motor, sensory integration, coordination, motor planning and life independence.
Parents are trained in a range of practical, evidence-based OT programs and strategies for their child to support dressing, writing, feeding, behaviour and sensory needs at home.
Reassessment occurs 8–12 weeks after commencing therapy to review child’s developmental progress, adjust or set new functional goals and track his/her independence and school readiness.
1. Case Study: Fine Motor & Classroom Participation (Nursery Child) – Al Nahda, Sharjah (Occupational Therapy) : - Sharjah's Austin Center received a referral from a mother in Al Nahda with a 5-year-old boy with concerns about his child having difficulties with handwriting, avoiding classroom activities and challenges with daily tasks like using cutlery, dressing and other tasks. Teacher feedback also indicated poor attention to pencil tasks and high levels of task refusal. The mother at first thought that he was “lazy” or that he would get better.
A sensory sensitivity, fine motor and coordination delay were identified through clinical evaluation. Parents were informed in simple and clear terms of these concerns to enhance understanding.
There was a focus on occupational therapy that started with sensory integration, hand strength, motor coordination, and functional task participation. Home strategies were also offered to ensure carryover from the sessions to home and nursery activities.
After a few weeks the child was making progress in engagement, attempts to complete tasks, pencil grasp and involvement in class activities. Motor improvement was the most important change reported by the mother, but there was also an improvement in confidence and willingness to try.
2.Activity: Case Study: Application of Occupational Adaptation in a Pediatric Case : - The Occupational Adaptation (OA) approach emphasizes the child's ability to adapt and participate successfully in his/her daily activities. In Amir's case, a child receiving pediatric occupational therapy in Dubai, he had developmental and behavioural delays that impacted his ability to function and be independent in his everyday life. Intervention was guided by OA principles to focus on strengthening adaptive responses and participation in meaningful activities. Amir became more engaged and competent with his occupation over the course of therapy, demonstrating the feasibility of such an intervention for a child with some theoretical models, as well as the difficulties of this implementation in a therapy environment in which theoretical models are applied to a reality of family-centered therapy.
"I have seen my son's ability to focus and attention improve significantly in the fourth month after starting his session, at Austin for aba and OT. They will instruct you on what to do and therefore we are also encouraged to follow-up at home. Looking forward to more improvement in the near future!A..."
"“My 2 months with Austin Centre has been a phenomenal experience! Our son has made really good progress since joining Austin Centre, thank you for all the expert guidance and support from Ms. Anu, Ms. Khadeeja and Ms. Varshini, you guys have been a great help in our son's journey!"
"Therapist Sherly at Austin Center, Al Nahda, Sharjah has been brilliant in supporting my 4.5 year old son who was having meltdowns and was not going to school on a daily basis, she clearly explained to me the science behind what was happening in his brain and gave me some simple and practical inform..."
"The Austin Center has made a world of difference for my son. Therapists are skilled and passionate in helping children. My son has seen a lot more development in his fine motor skills since he began occupational therapy. The sensory integration therapy has also been a tremendous success and has been..."
Behavior Analysis Standards
Dubai Health Authority Compliance
Approved Educational Therapy Practices
Sharjah Health Authority Guidelines
Rehabilitation Council of India Standards
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4.9/5 Rating
Trusted by 2,000+ families
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+971 54 329 1664
971553119743
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Ansar Gallery Building, Karama, Dubai
Mon-Sat • 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Visit us
Al Nahda Clinic, Sharjah
Mon-Sat • 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Metro
5 min walk from ADCB / BurJuman
From Bur Dubai
10 min — easy parking
From Deira
15 min via Maktoum Bridge
From Al Qusais
20 min via Sheikh Rashid Rd
From Al Nahda, Sharjah
20 min — near Dubai border
