10 Quick Facts About the HIS Baobab Centre

At Harare International School (HIS), we are committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive. The Baobab Centre is a dedicated multi-therapy space designed to support students with sensory, communication, and motor challenges. Here are 10 quick facts about this invaluable resource:

1. A Space for Holistic Support
   The Baobab Centre provides Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech-Language Therapy (SLT), and Physiotherapy (PT) to help students overcome challenges and enhance their school experience.

2. Professional Therapy Services
   All therapies at the centre are currently provided by external therapists, ensuring students receive expert guidance tailored to their needs.

3. A Safe and Calming Environment
   The centre is structured to create a calming and structured space, allowing students to regulate emotions, build communication skills, and improve focus.

4. Supporting a Range of Needs
   The Baobab Centre helps students with sensory processing disorders, ADHD, speech delays, anxiety, motor coordination challenges, and more.

5. Equipped with Specialized Tools
   The centre features weighted blankets, fidget tools, balance boards, swings, noise-canceling headphones, and visual communication aids to assist with therapy sessions.

6. Integrated Learning Support
   HIS teachers have received specialized training to incorporate therapy techniques into the classroom, ensuring a seamless learning experience for students who need additional support.

7. Boosting Classroom Participation
   Through self-regulation activities, students can re-enter the classroom more focused and engaged, leading to improved academic performance and classroom participation.

8. Personalized Therapy Sessions
   There is no one-size-fits-all approach—the Baobab Centre provides customized sessions based on individual student needs, whether it's OT, speech therapy, or physiotherapy.

9. Bridging the Gap for Neurodivergent Students
   The centre plays a key role in supporting neurodivergent learners, such as students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), by offering structured interventions and coping strategies.

10. Empowering Students for Independence
    By addressing sensory, motor, and communication needs, the Baobab Centre helps students develop essential life skills, fostering confidence, independence, and social interaction.

The Baobab Centre at HIS is more than just a therapy space, it is a hub for growth, inclusion, and empowerment, ensuring every student has the support they need to succeed.