Autism Consultant in Sharjah: Expert Guidance From a Board Certified Behavior Analyst
When parents start searching for an autism consultant near them in Sharjah, they are usually carrying a question that has been building for a while. Is this autism, or something else? What does this screening result actually mean? We have the diagnosis, so what do we do now? Advice from family, the internet, and well-meaning friends rarely settles it.
An autism consultation is a structured clinical meeting in which a specialist reviews a child's development, behavior, and existing reports with parents, explains what the findings may mean, and sets out clear, individualized next steps. It is the point where scattered concerns become a coherent picture and a plan.
Asha Susan Mani, BCBA (USA), provides autism consultations for Sharjah families from her practice in Karama, Dubai, a short drive from Al Nahda, Al Qasimia, Al Majaz, and Al Taawun. Online consultations are available across the UAE.
What it does: Reviews a child's development, behavior, communication, and existing reports, and turns them into clinical guidance and an action plan
Who it is for: Parents of children from 14 months to 12 years with possible autism, a recent screening or diagnosis, or communication, social, or behavioral concerns
Key outcome: Clarity about autism-related concerns and specific next steps, whether that is further assessment, intervention, home strategies, or school support
Duration: One session of approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
Method: Parent interview, developmental and medical history review, report review, ABA-based behavioral analysis, and developmental interpretation
Format: In person in Karama, Dubai, or online across the UAE
Hours: Saturday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with after-school and online slots
Serving: Families from Sharjah, Dubai, and across the UAE
Who Should See an Autism Consultant in Sharjah?
Parents reach out at very different moments. Some have a vague sense that something is different and want to know if they are right to be concerned. Others are holding a screening result or a fresh diagnosis and feel unsure where to begin. Some have been in therapy for months and want an experienced second opinion. In every case, the consultation is built around the family's specific question.
An autism consultation in Sharjah is relevant for:
Parents concerned that their child's development may relate to autism
Parents whose child has recently received an autism diagnosis and who need guidance on what comes next
Families seeking help to understand the results of an autism screening
Parents noticing differences in communication, eye contact, play, or social development
Children with challenging behaviors, meltdowns, or repetitive behaviors that are affecting daily life
Families unsure about the right next step after developmental concerns were raised by a doctor, nursery, or school
Parents who want to understand autism treatment and intervention options before committing to a program
Families searching for an experienced autism consultant in Sharjah or nearby
Parents seeking a second clinical opinion on a previous assessment, diagnosis, or treatment plan
Families needing guidance on nursery, school, or home support for their child
How an Autism Consultation Helps Sharjah Families
Understanding Whether Your Child's Development Is Related to Autism
Many developmental differences can look like autism at first, and many signs of autism can be explained away. Living in that uncertainty is draining, and it can delay support. A consultation looks at the full developmental picture and explains whether autism is a reasonable concern to explore further.
Understanding Autism vs. Speech Delay vs. Developmental Delay
A child who is not talking yet may have a speech delay, a broader developmental delay, autism, or a combination. Each points to a different kind of support. A consultation helps separate these possibilities so families invest in the right next step. Read more in our speech delay guide.
Understanding Autism Screening Results
A screening result can raise more questions than it answers, especially when it is handed over with little explanation. A consultation goes through what the result means for your child, what it does not mean, and whether further assessment is advisable.
Guidance After an Autism Diagnosis
A diagnosis can bring relief and fear at the same time, along with a long list of unanswered questions. Families often leave diagnostic appointments with a report but no practical plan. A consultation translates that report into priorities, intervention options, and a realistic starting point.
Understanding Autism Treatment and Intervention Options
ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, parent coaching, and school support, all these options can be overwhelming and not every option is right for every child. A consultation will tell you what each involves and which are most relevant to your child’s profile so that decisions are informed rather than rushed.
Supporting Your Child at Home
Parents want to help but how can they when there is no guidance, just guesswork. Practical strategies that fit in everyday routines are included in a consultation so that support can begin at home immediately.
What Happens During an Autism Consultation in Sharjah?
An autism consultation with Asha takes place in six simple steps. You can bring your child along, but you don't have to. The session is set up so you can talk openly and get all your questions answered.
Step 1: Talk About Your Concerns
We start with what's on your mind. Why did you book? What worries you most? What would you like to walk away knowing? Your answers shape the rest of the session.
Step 2: Review Your Child's Development and Medical History
Asha will ask you about your child’s early milestones, speech, play, sleep, eating and how they respond to sounds or textures. She also asks about any skills your child has lost, hearing tests and other health issues. If you speak more than one language in the home she’ll ask about that too.
Step 3: Go Through Existing Reports and Assessments
Bring any reports you have with you. This includes screening results, diagnosis report, therapy notes or feedback from the nursery or school. Asha is straightforward about them and highlights what’s missing or doesn’t add up.
Step 4: Discuss Behavior, Communication and Daily Skills
Next, Asha looks at how your child communicates, plays, behaves, and manages everyday tasks. If there are meltdowns or repetitive behaviors, she helps you understand why they happen. If your child is there, she'll watch how they interact. Short videos from home help a lot here.
Step 5: Understand What It All Means
Asha puts everything together and explains it clearly. Is autism a real concern? Could something else explain what you're seeing? What are your child's strengths, and where do they need support? You can ask questions at any point.
Step 6: Leave with a Clear Action Plan
You will receive specific next steps for your child. These could involve a formal autism assessment and where to get one in the UAE, autism treatment options like ABA therapy or speech therapy, things to try at home, and tips for the nursery or school. First, you will know what to do.
After an autism consultation with Asha, families typically receive:
A clearer understanding of their child's developmental profile: Strengths, needs, and how communication, social, behavioral, and daily living skills fit together
Clarity about autism-related concerns: An honest explanation of whether the child's presentation suggests autism should be explored further
Guidance on further assessment: Whether a formal diagnostic assessment is appropriate and how to access one in Sharjah, Dubai, or elsewhere in the UAE
An explanation of intervention options: What ABA-based intervention, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and parent coaching involve, and which are most relevant
Individualized recommendations: Priorities set around the child's specific profile, not generic advice
Parent strategies for home: Practical steps to support communication, behavior, and routines starting the same week
Nursery and school guidance where relevant: What to share with teachers and what support to ask for
Clear next steps: A written action plan for treatment or further evaluation, in the order it makes sense to do them
Why It Is Important to Get an Autism Consultation Early
The early years are when communication, social, and learning skills develop most rapidly. When concerns are looked at early, families can make informed decisions while there is the most time to act on them.
According to the CDC, identifying autism early allows children to access services and support sooner, and early intervention can help children build important skills. As referenced by NHS guidance, parents who notice possible signs of autism in their child are encouraged to speak with a professional rather than wait.
According to autism and child development guidance from organizations such as Autism Speaks, appropriate intervention can support developmental, communication, and functional skills, and earlier support gives families more options.
An early consultation does not mean assuming the worst. For some families it brings reassurance. For others it shortens the time between a concern and the right support. Either way, parents make better decisions with clear information. For general background, see our autism early signs guide.
Why Sharjah Families Choose Asha Susan Mani as Their Autism Consultant
Asha Susan Mani is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BACB, USA), an IBA-Certified Autism Specialist, and one of the first BCBAs to practice in the UAE. Since 2004, she has supported more than 7,000 children and families across the UAE, including more than 2,000 children who have moved into mainstream schools. Families from Sharjah have been part of her practice for many years.
Autism Consultation Reviews From Parents in Sharjah
“Asha is doing wonderful work with children on the autism spectrum. She is
highly professional in her approach, very systematic in her treatment design and interventions, and an
excellent facilitator between home and school. Parents often report how quickly their children have
transitioned into mainstream schooling after working under Asha’s guidance.”
★★★★★
ON
Dr. Onita Nakra
Educational Psychologist, Dubai
“My appreciation for your outstanding efforts in helping so many children
return to mainstream education. As you are aware, parents often face significant emotional challenges while
raising such wonderful children, partly due to societal reactions and partly due to rigid systems. I can
confidently say that you have done a great deal to ease that burden and support families through their
journey.”
★★★★★
SR
Dr. Sundar R
Dubai
“Mrs. Asha has been working with our son, Ahmed Khan, and we have seen clear
improvement over the past few months. Initially, Ahmed had frequent emotional outbursts, difficulty
following instructions, short attention span, and struggled with transitions between activities. Mrs. Asha
developed a structured plan and introduced simple, consistent strategies such as visual schedules, clear
first–then instructions, positive reinforcement, and planned transition warnings. She also guided us on how
to respond calmly and consistently during challenging behaviours at home. She regularly reviewed his
progress, adjusted goals when needed, and ensured we were involved in every step of the process. Ahmed is
now more settled, follows instructions better, and has improved in managing daily routines and transitions.
We are very grateful for Mrs. Asha’s guidance and support.”
★★★★★
SK
Mrs. Sara Khan
Parent · Behaviour Support
“Mrs. Asha has been supporting our daughter, Lavanya Nair (4 years old), who
was diagnosed with ADHD and was facing significant behavioural challenges in nursery. Initially, Lavanya had
difficulty sitting in class, frequent impulsive behaviours, emotional outbursts, and struggled with
following group instructions. The nursery also reported concerns about her attention and participation in
structured activities. Mrs. Asha conducted a detailed assessment and introduced a structured ABA-based plan
in coordination with the therapy team. She implemented clear routines, visual supports, reinforcement
strategies, and short, achievable task instructions to improve attention and compliance. Over a period of 4
months, we saw noticeable improvements. Lavanya is now more regulated in class, follows simple instructions
better, and her tantrums have reduced significantly. We are very grateful to Mrs. Asha and her team for
their consistent support and close collaboration.”
★★★★★
PN
Mrs. Priya Nair
Parent · ADHD Support
“Our son, Philip Cruz (3.5 years old), was referred to Mrs. Asha by his
nursery, Chubby Cheeks Nursery, Dubai, due to concerns around limited communication, difficulty following
group instructions, and frequent frustration during structured activities. When we started, Philip often
struggled with transitions and would become upset during classroom routines. Mrs. Asha conducted a detailed
assessment and introduced a structured behaviour plan using visual cues, consistent routines, and positive
reinforcement strategies. She also worked closely with his ABA therapist and the nursery team to ensure a
consistent approach across all environments. Within a few months, we noticed clear improvements. Philip is
now more settled in class, follows instructions more consistently, and is gradually engaging better with
peers and teachers. We are very grateful to Mrs. Asha for her guidance and practical strategies.”
★★★★★
EC
Mrs. Elena Cruz
Parent · Behaviour Support
“Our son, Arjun Menon (5 years old), was referred to Mrs. Asha by his
pediatrician at Aster Clinic, Al Qusais, for ADHD-related concerns, including inattention, hyperactivity,
and difficulty following instructions at home and school. Mrs. Asha conducted an assessment and introduced a
structured behavior plan using visual schedules, clear routines, reinforcement strategies, and parent
guidance. She also coordinated closely with the ABA therapist and school to ensure consistency across all
settings. Within a few months, Arjun showed noticeable improvement in attention, behavior regulation, and
daily routines. We are very grateful for Mrs. Asha’s support and structured approach.”
★★★★★
NM
Mrs. Neha Menon
Parent · ADHD Support
Autism Consultation vs. Searching for Answers Online
Area
Autism Consultation
Searching Online Alone
Information
Specific to your child's history and behavior
General, often conflicting
Interpretation
Clinical reading by an experienced specialist
Parents left to interpret alone
Reports and results
Explained in plain language
Hard to understand without context
Next steps
Written, prioritized action plan
Continued uncertainty
Home support
Strategies matched to your child
Generic tips that may not fit
Autism Consultation vs. Autism Diagnosis
Autism Consultation
Autism Diagnosis
Purpose
Developmental understanding, clinical guidance, and next steps
Formal clinical classification of whether a child meets the criteria for autism
Who provides it
An experienced autism specialist, such as a BCBA
An appropriately qualified diagnostic professional, such as a developmental pediatrician, child psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist
When it helps
Before, after, or instead of a diagnosis, whenever parents need clarity
When formal classification is needed for treatment planning or services
Result
Explanation of concerns and individualized recommendations
A diagnosis, or a finding that criteria are not met
An autism consultant talks to parents about their child’s development, behavior and reports. They then interpret what the results might mean and suggest what to do next. That might mean more testing, therapy, home strategies or help at school.
Many families in Sharjah see Asha Susan Mani, BCBA (USA). Her office is in Karama, Dubai, which is not far from Al Nahda, Al Qasimia, Al Majaz, and Al Taawun. You can also get consultations online. You can call or text +971 54 329 1664.
Find a trained professional, like a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, with nursery and school experience in the UAE. Asha sees families from Sharjah in Karama. She has after-school and online slots for busy parents.
Any parent with questions about autism, whether before screening, after a screening or diagnosis, or when therapy does not seem to be working. You do not need to be sure that autism is involved to book an appointment.
An autism consultation is a planned meeting with a specialist who will take your worries and your child's reports and turn them into a clear explanation and a plan for what to do next.
During an autism consultation, Asha listens to your worries, reviews your child's medical and developmental history along with any reports, discusses behavior and communication, explains the significance of these factors, and provides personalized suggestions.
An autism consultation is not a formal diagnosis. A diagnosis is made by an appropriately qualified diagnostic professional. A consultant can tell you whether a diagnostic assessment is advisable and help you access one in the UAE.
Not at all. A consultation is a meeting to talk about problems and figure out what to do next. Standardized tools are used in an assessment to find out what the problem is or to measure skills. A consultation is often a good way to figure out if an assessment is needed.
At any age, as soon as a concern comes up. Asha works with children from 14 months to 12 years, and earlier consultation gives families more time to act.
Yes. A consultant can help you figure out what kind of help is best based on whether the speech delay is likely to be isolated or part of a bigger picture of development.
Yes. A consultation explains what the screening result means, what it does not mean, and whether further assessment makes sense. You can learn more about autism screening in Sharjah.
Yes, this is one of the most common reasons families book. Asha helps turn the diagnostic report into priorities, treatment options, and a practical starting plan.
Bring any screening results, diagnostic or therapy reports, pediatric notes, and school or nursery feedback. Short phone videos of behaviors you are concerned about are very helpful.
No referral is needed. Parents can book directly by phone, WhatsApp, or the free consultation page.
Autism Consultations typically last about 60 to 90 minutes, depending upon the number of reports that need to be reviewed and questions the family may have.
After a successful autism consultation, you know what you're going to do when you leave. Your child may need a diagnostic test, therapy, home strategies, or to talk to the school as the next step.
Yes. According to Asha, the best ways to help your child are through ABA-based therapy, speech therapy, or parent coaching. She also talks about how to set priorities for your child.
Yes. Using ABA-based analysis, Asha figures out what makes a child act out and what that behavior gets them. She then suggests useful ways to stop the behavior.
Yes. Parents can get advice on what to say to teachers and what kind of help to ask for during a consultation. This helps the school make sense of its worries.
Absolutely. Many families book precisely because they are unsure. A consultation helps clarify whether autism is a concern worth exploring or whether something else better explains what you are seeing.
Yes. An early consultation can bring reassurance, or it can shorten the time before the right support begins. Either way, parents make decisions with better information.
Consider qualifications such as BCBA certification, years of experience, knowledge of UAE schools and services, and whether they provide a specific, tailored plan of action, rather than generic advice.
Yes. Asha provides online consultations throughout the UAE, which is especially useful for reviewing reports, discussing concerns and planning next steps.
Areas We Serve in Sharjah
We provide autism therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA therapy, and child development support to families in Al Nahda Sharjah, Al Taawun, Al Khan, Al Qasba, Al Majaz, Al Mamzar, Al Qusais, Muwaileh, Al Yarmook, and Abu Shagara, as well as surrounding areas within approximately 10 km of Al Nahda, Sharjah.
Book an Autism Consultation in Sharjah
An autism consultation can help parents understand developmental concerns, review existing information, and identify the most appropriate next steps. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral, or a clear question to start. Many Sharjah families begin with a feeling that something needs a closer look and leave with a plan.
