Samaher Saif Al Yazal
He emphasized that this is not an option but rather a basic right for people with needs
The expert and consultant consultant in special education and director of the Ma’an Special Education Center, Osama Madbouly, affirmed that the feast and the rituals, visits and activities it holds, constitutes a unique opportunity to enhance the integration of our children with special needs, in their societies, develop their social skills, and instill their sense of belonging.
He explained that for every child, the Eid is an annual date that awaits him impatiently; To wear new clothes, receive “Eid”, and participate in games and family visits, indicating that this passion is not disagreed by our children with special needs, but these occasions may be of double importance for them, as they are like a real test of society’s ability to embrace them, and provide them with valuable opportunities for direct interaction with family members and society on a broader scale.
“We must start by changing the societal view of people with special needs, as they are not just recipients of kindness or compassion, but they are individuals who are able to give, participate and enjoy life with all its details,” Madbouly said.
He pointed out that this requires everyone awareness that integrating them is not an option, but rather a basic right for them and a duty for all of us, explaining that participation in holidays breaks their daily routine, and their exposure to new social situations, which contributes to building their self -confidence and developing their life skills.
Madbouly stressed the importance of pre -planning to ensure that the Eid experience is positive and enriching for these children, and this includes preparing the child psychologically for various activities, developing a flexible plan for visits and activities, and determining the times when the child may need calm or comfort. He indicated that this planning does not reduce the joy of the feast, but rather ensures that the child can enjoy it without being exposed to situations that cause him tension or fatigue.
He explained that the joy of the feast can also be enhanced through effective participation in the rituals of Eid:
• Eid prayer: Parents can take the children of Down syndrome to the Eid prayer hall or the mosque, taking into account the choice of a quiet and suitable place for them. This participation enhances the feeling of religious and social affiliation.
• Exchanging congratulations and feasts: encouraging the child to exchange congratulations with relatives and friends, and help him receive and offer Eid. These simple interactions develop social skills and daily dealing skills.
• Help in distributing sacrifices: Children can be involved in part of the process of distributing sacrificial meat in a safe and suitable in their ages and abilities, such as carrying light bags or providing them to neighbors. This implants the values of giving and charity.
2. Custom recreational activities:
• Sensory and creative games: providing games and activities that develop their microcredit and cognitive skills, such as construction games, simple puzzles, coloring and drawing. Greeting cards can be decorated or a simple sacrifice industry.
• Stories and Eid songs: Read stories about the feast or listen to the delightful songs and songs of the feast. This can be an opportunity to teach them some of the words or movements associated with the feast.
• Safe external activities: take them to the gardens or open places allocated to children, where they can play safely and interact with their peers in a cheerful and fun environment.
Madbouly noted that the role of relatives and friends lies in prior awareness, as parents can inform relatives and friends about some of the child’s special needs and how to interact with him in a positive way.
He stressed that society has a comprehensive responsibility that requires the solidarity of efforts by individuals, government institutions, charities, and specialized centers, and the goal is to build a supportive environment that guarantees them their right to joy and integration.
He said that the blessed Eid Al -Adha, with all the values of giving and solidarity, is an invitation to all of us to extend our hands with love and attention to our children with special needs, they are an integral part of the fabric of our society, and their ability to joy and enjoy life is an authentic right for them, when we share the joy of the feast, prepare them for the appropriate environment, and enhance them, and enhance them, and we are enhanced by their integration We not only give them joy, but also build a more humane, compassionate and understanding society.
He called for organizing feast activities for people with special needs in public parks or youth centers, taking into account the provision of calm spaces, sensory games, and directed interaction.
