The Child Development Institute is a multi-profile institute under Ilia State University creating the opportunity to get an education, conduct research and enjoy quality service in the field of child and adolescent development. At present, the clinic comprises 4 centres.

The Mission of the Institute

The mission of the Institute is to support the development and social integration of children and adolescents and assist them in the transition to independent living by generating multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and exploring experiences.

The main objectives of the Institute are to:

• Evaluate children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and provide them with rehabilitation services;
• Support early development by engaging children with special needs or those belonging to risk groups in individual/group activities designed for child development, promote the role of parents/guardians in developing children’s skills;
• Assist young people with special needs to develop work skills;
• Promote inclusive education at all levels through education and research activities;
• Contribute to professional development by providing educational opportunities for adults, including internships for students, training of future practitioners and capacity building of personnel through training and supervision;
• Protect the interests of the beneficiaries of the Institute centres and programmes;
• Explore new approaches, methods and practices, including a behavioural and emotional development programme, information technologies, hippotherapy, sensory integration therapy, speech and language therapy, examine conditions for their applicability as well as possibilities for their use in Georgia;
• Cooperate with the different faculties, institutes and centres of the University in the field of educational and research activity.

Child Development Institute incorporates the following centers:

• The Center for Pre-School and Inclusive Education
• The Practical Training Center for Consultation, Education and Rehabilitation of Students with Special Needs.
• The Center for Early Childhood Development
• The Center for Autism

Currently, the Center has about 100 beneficiaries.