Press — Raana Smith

The journey of raising a child with special needs 0

On January 1, 2019, Sensory Souk opened the doors to its first retail outlet in Qatar,” shared Raana. The response of the people to the facility has been overwhelming and positive. “We have been much busier than we anticipated.

Sensory Souk: A unique store for children with additional needs 0

Doha: A unique store in Doha offers products to help address challenges faced by children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) mainly due to Autism. 

The first-of-its-kind shop ‘Sensory Souk’, in Royal Plaza, provides a wide range of therapy tools and toys for children with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder and other developmental delays.

SensorySouk's Raana and Alison's story shared with Qatar Expat Women 0

Raana Smith has been living in Qatar for the past 10 years. She’s from Richmond, Virginia and attended Virginia Commonwealth University many moons ago! (Yep, the same VCU that now has a campus in Education City).

My Family's SPD Journey 0

One of our founders, Raana, was featured as the first guest in STAR Institute for SPD's new series "My Family's Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder". She shared her and her family's journey to diagnosis, treatment, and what it feels like to come out on the other side.

Unique online platform supports kids with SPD 0

Alison Saraf and Raana Smith, residents of Doha, recently launched ‘Sensory Souk’, a unique online platform, as a tribute to their children. Sensory Souk focuses on products to help address challenges faced by children with  Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) mainly due to Autism. 

Qatar moms launch an online souq to help autistic kids 0

Alison Saraf and Raana Smith are two moms on a mission.

The long-term expats are both parents of boys with autism and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPS), a condition in which the brain has trouble interpreting information from the senses.

Both children have at times struggled to learn due to these issues. And their mothers told Doha News that they have spent thousands of riyals importing educational aids from abroad to try to help.