Decree No. (26) of 2021
Concerning the Dubai Autism Centre[1]
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We, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai,
After perusal of:
Law No. (3) of 2003 Establishing the
Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai;
Decree No. (21) of 2001 Establishing the
Dubai Autism Centre; and
Decree No. (9) of 2015 Regulating the
Raising of Donations in the Emirate of Dubai,
Do hereby issue this
Decree.
The following words
and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Decree, will have the meaning
indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
|
Emirate: |
The Emirate of
Dubai. |
|
Executive Council: |
The Executive
Council of the Emirate of Dubai. |
|
DAC: |
The Dubai Autism
Centre. |
|
Board of Directors: |
The board of
directors of the DAC. |
|
Executive Director |
The executive
director of the DAC. |
|
Autism Spectrum Disorder: |
One of the
neurodevelopmental disorders and developmental disabilities caused by a
disorder in the central nervous system (i.e. the brain). This disorder is
characterised by dysfunction or failure in the development of sensory and
linguistic perception, which results in inability to communicate, speak,
learn, and interact with others. |
The provisions of
this Decree apply to the Dubai Autism Centre established pursuant to the
above-mentioned Decree No. (21) of 2001 as a non-profit and non-governmental
foundation having legal personality, financial and administrative autonomy, and
the legal capacity required to undertake all acts and dispositions that ensure
the achievement of its objectives.
The head office of
the DAC will be located in the Emirate. The DAC may, pursuant to a resolution
of the Board of Directors, establish branches and offices within and outside of
the Emirate.
The DAC aims to:
1. contribute to promoting the Emirate as an international leading centre for providing special education programmes and specialised therapeutic rehabilitation services to the persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder;
2. raise community awareness of the needs of persons suffering from the Autism Spectrum Disorder, their families and carers, and the persons interacting with them;
3. contribute to coordinating and directing regional efforts to raise awareness of the Autism Spectrum Disorder, its symptoms, and the requirements for dealing properly with persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder;
4. contribute to providing integrated and specialised rehabilitation and education services to persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder and to providing their families and carers with guidance, support, and training programmes; and
5. integrate children diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder in the community by enabling them to fully realise their potential through the best special education programmes and internationally recognised therapeutic rehabilitation services.
For the purpose of
achieving its objectives, the DAC will have the duties and powers to:
1. develop the policies and strategic plans required to deal with the Autism Spectrum Disorder in coordination with the concerned entities in the Emirate;
2. conduct research and studies aiming at exploring the status of the Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Emirate;
3. determine the standards and requirements that must be met for registration with the DAC;
4. provide educational, psychological, and rehabilitation services; efficient care; and support to persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder and to their families and carers;
5. provide the clinical services required for diagnosing, detecting, and assessing the Autism Spectrum Disorder for all the children referred to the DAC for assessment, registration, and intervention;
6. propose and implement the initiatives and programmes that aim to raise awareness of the importance of treating the Autism Spectrum Disorder;
7. organise symposia, conferences, training courses and programmes, and workshops related to the work of the DAC; and issue printed material and publications that contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the DAC;
8. act as an integrated assessment and intervention unit that adopts the latest international standards in diagnosing the symptoms of the Autism Spectrum Disorder, assessing its severity, and diagnosing other associated conditions;
9. provide persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder with specialised healthcare services and various therapeutic programmes through the specialists employed by the DAC and the facilities designed according to the best international standards to enable these persons to achieve the highest levels of independence in society;
10. provide specialised educational programmes inside and outside of classrooms in line with a clear educational philosophy, and develop curricula that are suitable for students diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder, that meet international standards, and that are aligned with special education national policies;
11. provide children with carefully designed individual educational plans that reflect the unique qualities of each child and that meet their individual educational needs;
12. provide specialised services to children diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder and hold intensive individual sessions that focus on developing their communication and interactive skills;
13. improve the daily life and professional skills that enhance the independence of persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder in all areas of life, in accordance with the relevant best international standards and practices;
14. provide vocational training and development programmes for persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder with the aim of promoting their skills and expertise and assisting them in their integration in the community;
15. provide vocational training and development programmes in the areas of special education; speech therapy; occupational and psychomotor therapy; and early diagnosis, assessment, and intervention to the technical staff of the DAC and to the parents of persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder, based on the latest scientific studies and research and successful practices in the area of rehabilitation and treatment of persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder;
16. enter into partnerships with local, regional, and international entities specialised in areas related to the work of the DAC; and coordinate with them on all matters related to the achievement of the DAC objectives;
17. prepare and qualify UAE national cadres specialised in the treatment and rehabilitation of persons diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder, and coordinate in this respect with concerned entities within or outside of the Emirate;
18. raise Donations for the DAC in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate;
19. purchase, take lease of, and own movable and immovable property as required for performing its duties; and dispose of such property by all means of legal disposition; and
20. exercise any other duties or powers required for the achievement of the objectives of the DAC, as assigned to it by the Executive Council.
The DAC will have
the following organisational levels:
1. the Board of Directors; and
2. an executive body.
a. The DAC will have a Board of Directors comprised of a chairman, a vice chairman, and a number of experienced, competent, and specialised members. The number of the Board of Directors members may neither be less than five (5) nor more than nine (9), including the chairman and vice chairman. Members of the Board of Directors will be appointed pursuant to a resolution of the Chairman of the Executive Council for a renewable term of three (3) years.
b. Where the resolution forming the Board of Directors is silent on the appointment of the vice chairman, the Board of Directors must, in its first meeting, elect the vice chairman unanimously or by majority vote of its members.
c. The Board of Directors will be directly responsible to the Executive Council for performing the duties assigned to it under this Decree, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and the legislation in force in the Emirate; and for performing any other duties assigned to it by the Executive Council.
a. The Board of Directors is the highest authority supervising the DAC, the achievement of its objectives, and the management of its affairs. In particular, the Board of Directors will have the duties and powers to:
1. develop, and supervise the implementation of, the strategic orientation; the general policy; and the strategic, development, and operational plans of the DAC;
2. approve the policies and strategic plans required to deal with the Autism Spectrum Disorder, and submit the same to the Executive Council for final approval;
3. approve the projects, programmes, and initiatives of the DAC;
4. approve the draft annual budget and financial statements of the DAC;
5. approve the charges for the services and programmes provided by the DAC and the rules for exemption from these charges;
6. propose legislation related to the Autism Spectrum Disorder and coordinate with the competent authority in the Emirate in this respect;
7. approve the organisational structure of the DAC;
8. approve the bylaws, regulations, and resolutions governing the administrative, financial, and technical work of the DAC;
9. form permanent and temporary committees and work teams; and determine their duties, functions, and terms of reference;
10. review reports on the work, activities, and achievements of the DAC, including annual reports, financial reports, and performance reports; and submit the same to the Executive Council;
11. assess and follow up the performance of the executive body of the DAC;
12. review the reports related to work progress at the DAC and make the appropriate decisions in respect thereof;
13. establish the rules for raising Donations for the DAC and spending them for their intended purposes, in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate;
14. seek assistance from experts and specialists, as it deems appropriate, to enable it to perform the duties assigned to the DAC;
15. appoint, dismiss, and determine the remuneration of, external auditors; and review the reports and notes submitted by these auditors at the end of each financial year; and
16. exercise any other duties or powers required to achieve the objectives of the DAC, or assigned to it by the Executive Council.
b. The Board of Directors may delegate any of its powers under paragraph (a) of this Article to any of its members or to the Executive Director, provided that such delegation is specific and in writing.
a. The Board of Directors will convene at the invitation of the chairman, or the vice chairman if the chairman is absent, at least once every three (3) months and where necessary. Meetings of the Board of Directors will be valid if attended by the majority of its members, provided that its chairman or vice chairman is in attendance.
b. Resolutions and recommendations of the Board of Directors will be passed by majority vote of the attending members; and in the event of a tie, the chair of the meeting will have a casting vote.
c. Resolutions and recommendations of the Board of Directors will be recorded in minutes signed by the chair of the meeting and the attending members.
d. The chairman of the Board of Directors will appoint, from amongst the DAC employees, a rapporteur of the Board of Directors. The rapporteur will be responsible for sending meeting invitations to members of the Board of Directors, preparing its meeting agendas, recording its minutes of meetings, following up the implementation of its resolutions and recommendations, and performing any other duties assigned to him by the chairman of the Board of Directors.
e. The Board of Directors may invite experts and specialists, as it deems appropriate, to attend its meetings. These experts and specialists will not have a vote in the deliberations of the Board of Directors.
f. The vice chairman of the Board of Directors will act as its chairman where the chairman is absent or becomes incapable of performing his duties.
a. The executive body of the DAC will be comprised of the Executive Director and a number of technical and administrative employees.
b. The executive body of the DAC will be responsible for the operational work of the DAC, and for providing administrative and technical support to the Board of Directors.
c. The provisions of the human resources regulations adopted by the Board of Directors will apply to the employees of the executive body of the DAC.
a. The Executive Director will be appointed by a resolution of the chairman of the Board of Directors.
b. The Executive Director will be directly responsible to the Board of Directors for performing the duties assigned to him under this Decree, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and the legislation in force in the Emirate; and for performing any other duties assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
The Executive
Director will have the duties and powers to:
1. propose the general policy, and the strategic, development, and operational plans of the DAC; and submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval;
2. follow up the implementation of the approved general policy of the DAC and the resolutions and recommendations issued by the Board of Directors;
3. develop the policies and strategic plans required to deal with the Autism Spectrum Disorder in coordination with the concerned entities in the Emirate, and submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval;
4. prepare the draft annual budget and financial statements of the DAC; and submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval;
5. propose the projects, programmes, and initiatives of the DAC; and submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval;
6. prepare the organisational structure of the DAC, and submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval;
7. draft the bylaws, regulations, and resolutions governing the administrative, financial, and technical work of the DAC; and submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval;
8. supervise, on a daily basis, the employees of the DAC and the operations, activities, and services they perform;
9. submit annual reports on the performance of the DAC to the Board of Directors to make the appropriate decisions in respect thereof;
10. propose the charges for the services provided by the DAC and the rules for exemption from these charges, and submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval;
11. represent the DAC before third parties and execute contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding to which the DAC is a party, in accordance with the relevant powers granted to him by the Board of Directors; and
12. exercise any other duties or powers assigned or delegated to him by Board of Directors.
The financial
resources of the DAC will consist of:
1. the charges for the services and programmes provided by the DAC;
2. the grants, gifts, Donations, bequests, and endowments approved by the Board of Directors; and
3. any other resources approved by the Executive Council.
a. In managing its accounts and records, the DAC will apply the relevant accounting rules and principles approved by the Board of Directors.
b. The financial year of the DAC will commence on 1 January and will end on 31 December of each year.
All Government
Entities in the Emirate must fully cooperate with the DAC to enable it to
perform the duties and functions assigned to it under
this Decree and the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof.
The chairman of the
Board of Directors will, subject
to the approval of the
Board of Directors, issue the resolutions required for the implementation of
the provisions of this Decree.
a. This Decree supersedes the above-mentioned Decree No. (21) of 2001.
b. Any provision in any other legislation will be repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Decree.
c. The resolutions and bylaws issued in implementation of the above-mentioned Decree No. (21) of 2001 will continue in force to the extent that they do not contradict this Decree, until new superseding resolutions and bylaws are issued.
This Decree comes
into force on the day on which it is issued, and will be published in the
Official Gazette.
Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum
Ruler of Dubai
Issued in Dubai on 12 July 2021
Corresponding to 2 Thu al-Hijjah 1442
A.H.
©2021 The Supreme
Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort
has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this
legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application,
reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the
Arabic text will prevail.