Many times I have been asked about institutions, organizations, facilities and professionals who specialize in Saudi Arabia’s Disabled and Handicapped Children. I’ve posted information as I have received it and now am happy to share names of two more specialists who have been brought to my attention. Both of these individuals are associated with the National Guard Health Affairs in Riyadh:
Dr. Abdullah Soby is known for his work with handicapped children and particularly children diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. He is a pediatrician by training. He is also widely known in the Gulf Area for working with handicapped children and as a child abuse activist.
Dr. Abdulrahman Swaid is a genetist and specializes in children who have been born with genetic problems. He also maintains two web sites in arabic where families can seek information, advise and ask questions related to children who have genetic problems. (sorry; I do not have the links to his web sites).
Both of these doctors can be reached at 966.1.252.0088 extension 11630. However if one is not associated with National Guard Health Affairs and wish to be treated then one will likely have to apply through its business center.
Filed under: Health, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi education, travel, Uncategorized
I’m going to sound like a broken record as I always have the same things to say on this issue which affects me personally. There are INDIVIDUALS who are wonderful examples of how things can and should be when it comes to peoples with disability in this country. However as a society there are so many negative issues that have impeded the growth and care of such peoples. There lacks an overall care, support system, educational facilties, and acceptance into society overall for adults with disabilities.
I can give you a few great INDIVIDUALS when it comes to my last sons treatments concerning his DS. But litterally you tend to be on your own left to figure things out with no group or collective support that should be in place to deal with such issues. I applaud the individuals who are just as heartbroken as I am that things aren’t better for children and adults with disabilities and special needs.
I personally have a lot of struggle with disabled people, it has been fortunate for me to have healthy relatives.. but it’s also something that leaves me behind without treating such behavior. I think a lot of people have that, yet they struggle to be composed around a person with special needs..
I do see a very negative thing about common folk, they don’t realize it themselves.. its something they say inconsiderately without self awareness that it might hurt the other person involved. Usually the disabled person himself or his relatives/friends. There are phrases traditional families, mostly Bedu, use in their daily life that are like protocol.. like greeting guests or morning greetings. However, some of those phrases are said when they hear news of a tragedy. For example “God don’t plight us.”, it might be intended innocently as a prayer to god that no harm comes their way.. but sometimes they stick like thorns. For example my Aunt’s first child has Down syndrome while in the waiting room, heard some simple women voice such words. She wouldn’t have been hurt if they mutterd the words to themselves.. but it was tearing her up because they didn’t have the courtesy to keep their opinion to themselves. The child needs care and attention, not shunned like it was the black plague.
I believe the needs of the disabled (whether a child or adult) need further awareness and education. While progress is being made to acknowledge and cater to the needs of disabled, special needs or handicapped, not enough is being done.
It saddens me that these individuals in some circles are viewed with a stigma like “can’t get too close or I might catch this affliction.” We need to remind everyone that these individuals are human and just like those who are healthy and have no disabilities, still appreciate, respond to and thrive on a friendly smile, encouraging word and hug.
In my experience, people with DS are NOT like the rest of us. They seem to be the most loving and delightful human beings I have ever met in my life! People who would shun them are missing out on so much.
Meow! I love the banner!
On a separate note, like what I suggested about the “Carol’s Interview” thing, you might want to create a “Special Help” page where help people with special needs (handicapped, abused women etc) can find them.
You can sub-categorise them or spell them according to their names but it will be a lot easier if you categorise them. Promoting these organsations/individuals in the form of entries will be marvellous, just like this post. In a way, you’re helping the people who might need assistance find the correct organisations/individuals.
Lynn – couldn’t agree more!
Firdaus – I like your suggestion but in creating separate pages it does not mean there are separate posts so I think what I need to do the next Saudi weekend is some more categorizing to make it easier for folks to find posts. If you scroll down the right side you’ll see the categories I already established which is a useful tool for finding posts on specific topics and issues.
I can hardly believe or accept that Al-Nahda school for Down Sydrome children is not in operational. Why? Why? Why?
That school was bright, modern, and filled with committed teachers who loved and understood the kids. The kids themselves were very well taught and taken care of. Nothing was negative or lacking there. On the contrary, it was a model that served as an ideal and a goal to which other countries might aspire.
That school enriched me as much as it did my DS daughter. None of her schools in the United States matched it in excellence.
OK, lament over.
When I first brought my daughter to Al-Nahda, I was surprised to discover the large number of Down Syndrome kids in attendance, and the larger number of kids on the waiting list. Could it have been several hundred? My memory is weak on the statistics. All manor of society was represented there, from the most prominant families to the least.
I never saw any of these kids on the streets of Riyadh, or the homes of host families I visited. When I got to know the kids on a individual basis (I volunteered there for while) I realized that their problems were just like other peoples’.
They wanted to be useful, accepted, loved, entertained, and keep comfortable. They wanted to help others. They wanted to show their appreciation to their caretakers, and they wanted to make other people smile. I grew to love those kids.
I saw a seen about 2 weeks ago that still distresses me. I was at Azizia Mall in Riyadh. A filipina housemaid was walking with a special needs Saudi teenager. He was three times bigger than the housemaid. His parents were nowhere in sight and he was in a state of distress. It was so obvious the housemaid did not know what to do and know one was coming around to help. Even I was hesitant to step forward as he was a big guy and trying to rough up the housemaid. He seemed to be distressed because he was not getting his way about something and evident he was unable to talk distinctly to express himself. On one hand it was good to see that a special needs child was not being kept locked away in a room somewhere as happens to often but on the other hand it was sad to see that this young guy seemed to be left to the total care of a housemaid who did not seem equipped to handle him.
Marahm- There is a higher rate of children born with DS in Saudi because saudi has a non abortion policy coupled with a higher rate of DS in pregnancies. 90% of pregnancies in the US that have a diagnosis of DS are aborted. So if any socieity needed facilities that aided families who had children with DS Saudi is it.
But you won’t see them out and about mainly because the families are so ignorant regarding DS. There are so many issues there, from social stigmas, to the lack of parenting that it takes for a child with special needs, to help and support from the medical field and society at large.
While centers may be around for a bit that help parents who have children with special needs. Just like any other school in the Kingdom, for a few years it is great and wonderful.. than teacher contracts run out and you can’t replace them, untrained workers are all they can get, money starts to run out, fees aren’t paid, helps isn’t given, things get overwhelming and the school either turns into one where you don’t want to walk into or fade away.
I’ve had family say some truely strange things to me. But I’ve found the most important thing for me to do in order to educate them is to make it a non issue. My son has DS and our lives go on and he is wonderful. As soon as they get over their initial ignorance about DS they begin to see my son, not the social taboo of DS. I have to remind myself people mean no harm, they just don’t know any better.
Bedu- Most likely the parents didn’t know how to deal with the boy either. Probably easier for them to hand him off to a maid than for them to deal with the stress. I do blame the government health care system that doesn’t do more to edcuate such parents and aid them with more support.
now I’m finished highjacking this thread
Nzingha – hijack all you want for you have real value added and help to highlight the need for additional care AND education!
reuter’s picked this one up:
http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/science?bbPostId=B6kcqoGH9Pf8Bzn7nRZ5sNNoCz8sZ4JtGLIwaCz4ZnwdtwionJ
I really thouroughly enjoyed this point Champions for Saudi Arabia’s Disabled and Handicapped American Bedu it truly was such a awesome read I am grateful