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From August 20 to 25, 2026, the CLES Annual Reunion unfolded across four enriching days. The first two days brought teams from all eight CLES centers together at Al Bustan Hotel, while the following two days took place at the CLES center. Across the week, the program combined organizational updates, clinical learning, scientific supervision, responsible technology use, collective reflection, creativity, nature, and joyful moments of connection.

More than an annual meeting, the reunion offered us an opportunity to step back from our daily routines, learn from one another, and renew the shared purpose that unites the entire CLES family.

Day 1

A warm welcome and a year in review

The reunion opened with a warm welcome from CLES Founder and CEO Carmen Chahine Debbane, setting a positive and inspiring tone for the days ahead.

The teams then reviewed the year’s activities across our therapeutic and diagnostic centers. Updates on CLES operations and various CLES programs highlighted the many ways in which our teams continue to support children and their families.

Using AI responsibly and efficiently

The teams explored the responsible and efficient use of artificial intelligence, focusing on how AI can support everyday work while keeping human judgment, responsibility, and thoughtful use at the center.

Bringing new clinical learning to the team

Following lunch and the traditional group photo, the teams gathered to share knowledge acquired through recent professional training.

The first presentation shared key insights and reflections from a university diploma program on neurodevelopmental disorders in adults at Sorbonne Université in Paris. It explored current perspectives on functioning, diagnosis, and life journeys in adulthood, while considering how these insights could be applied within our centers and daily clinical practice.

The team was also introduced to the ADOS-2, a standardized observational tool used to assess autism in children. The discussion emphasized that a clinical tool becomes most valuable when it enriches the perspective and work of the entire multidisciplinary team.

Making room for wellbeing

The teams also took part in practical rituals designed to help them cope more effectively with professional stress. This created a valuable space to pause, reconnect, and consider simple ways to protect personal wellbeing in demanding professional environments.

Walking and dining together

The first day ended away from the meeting room with a refreshing hike in nature followed by dinner. Walking, talking, and sharing time in a different setting offered a joyful conclusion to a full day of learning and reflection.

Day 2

Preparing our awareness mission

The second day began with collaborative work around CLES’s awareness mission. Team members reflected together on how to communicate our message more effectively and how each center can contribute to bringing greater understanding of specific learning difficulties to the wider community.

Learning from one another

Professionals then gathered according to their respective disciplines, including psychology, speech therapy, and psychomotor therapy, to speak openly about their work. Each person had the opportunity to share their strengths, experiences, and the aspects of their practice that bring them the greatest satisfaction.

These conversations strengthened the bonds between colleagues and highlighted the supportive community we have built at CLES, where mutual assistance, kindness, and sharing are at the heart of our relationships, both professionally and personally.

Creating together

The second day concluded with a collective artistic activity, bringing everyone together through creativity, collaboration, and shared expression. It was a fitting conclusion to the collective program at Al Bustan Hotel.

Days 3 and 4

Scientific supervision and multidisciplinary exchange

During the following two days at the CLES center, the Belgian Scientific Committee met with the multidisciplinary teams to supervise and discuss their work. Together, they reviewed individual cases, while each therapist was given the opportunity to share observations, questions, and challenges from daily practice.

These focused exchanges encouraged deeper clinical reflection, strengthened collaboration across disciplines, and supported the coherent and individualized care provided to every child.

The CLES Annual Reunion 2026 reminded us that our greatest strength lies not only in our professional expertise, but also in our ability to listen, share, support one another, and continue growing together. We concluded the reunion with new perspectives, stronger connections, and a renewed commitment to every child and family we serve.