Takween's Story

Takween is the first Palestinian center specializing in the neurological and psychological care of children. Located in the city of Ramallah, it welcomes children suffering from neurological disorders such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and behavioral disorders such as autism, hyperactivity, and attention deficit. The center provides specialized and quality services to them and their families in a systematic and integrated manner, including diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of various types through individualized treatment plans for each child.

Founded by pediatric neurologist Dr. Rand Askalan, who holds a Ph.D. in neurosciences from University of Cambridge in the UK and a pediatric neurology fellowship from  University of Toronto in Canada, she currently serves as the CEO of the center. Dr. Askalan explains the reason behind establishing the center: "Despite being in the diaspora, I remained connected to our beloved Palestine. I used to come to Palestine once or twice a year to volunteer in my field. During these frequent visits, I noticed the deficiency and lack of services available to my young patients in Palestine compared to the services available to my patients in Canada, and this was very disturbing to me. So, I decided to establish a center like Takween in Palestine."

Takween is distinguished for various reasons, one of the most important being its qualified team capable of addressing all the needs of children and their families. In addition to Dr. Rand Askalan, the center brings together a team of specialized experts who have been trained locally and internationally. The team includes specialists in pediatric neurology, clinical psychology, behavioral therapy, optics, and visual rehabilitation. The staff also include experts in special education, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, music therapy and family guidance. Takween's goal goes beyond empowering children with special needs; it also aims to make our society a part of the world these children see—a world they perceive in their unique way, and we carry the greatest responsibility of being part of it.

Regarding the design of Takween building, it was carefully planned to create a cheerful and stimulating environment for children with special needs. Dr. Askalan emphasized, "I wanted Takween to be a lovable environment for our young patients. A lot of research has proven the importance of external influences on children with special needs, as they affect their feelings about the place and people in it. They constantly need a nurturing environment that creates comfort for them and positively influences them to feel safe and at ease, thus increasing their interaction and responsiveness to their therapeutic programs. Therefore, I worked diligently on the design phase of the building, considering the finest details, starting from the general layout of the different services to the colors, furniture, and selected toys for the children. My goal is to make Takween a haven for professionals passionate about their work, for families dedicated to caring for their children, and for a community committed to helping every Palestinian child with special needs have a healthier life and a better future."