Embrace celebrates International Disabilities Day

Today is United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to the WHO World Report on Disability, 15 per cent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability. Many of those people live in the Middle East.

In many Middle Eastern countries, including where our partners work, disability is often misunderstood. Social stigma and limited support services mean that people with disabilities often miss out on education, employment and appropriate healthcare. Many aren’t given the opportunity to develop their independence and fulfil their potential.

That's why we work with our partners to encourage communities to better understand disability in its many forms, and to help those with disabilities, like Farah, to flourish.

FARAH’S STORY

After a healthy pregnancy, Farah’s parents were excited for their daughter’s arrival. They planned to call  her ‘Laila’, meaning ‘the night’ in Arabic, but when she was born with Down’s syndrome, her father held her in his arms and decided to change her name to ‘Farah’, or ‘joy’ in English.

It took Rainya, Farah’s mother, a little while to come to terms with her daughter’s diagnosis. In the Middle East, disability is something of a taboo and Rainya was reluctant to talk about it. However, this has changed since the couple sought the help of the Princess Basma Centre in Jerusalem.

‘Farah’s father’s decision to change her name as the right one. This name suits Farah much better since she has become the joy of our life.’

Despite being born into a loving and supportive home, Farah has faced many physical and mental challenges along the way. Her parents made their first steps towards securing support and treatment for Farah when she was six months old. They met Dr. Waddah Malhees at the Medical Clinic in Jerusalem and Farah was referred to Princess Basma Child Rehabilitation Centre. 

On her first admission, Farah was not able to sit up or control her arms, legs and neck. But after two weeks at the Centre, she had greatly improved. After her second and third admissions the medical team recorded improvements in her fine motor skills, balance, ability to chew and eat, and also in her cognitive skills - Farah particularly enjoyed playing with Lego! 

When Covid-19 struck, forcing the world to go into lockdown, Farah’s family were enrolled in the Virtual Care Model where she received four sessions of virtual therapy each week. After a little hesitation, Farah quickly adapted to the idea, and to the surprise and delight of everyone, she took her first steps while the camera was filming in one of the therapy sessions. 

At 18 months old, Farah is now able to walk up and down the stairs. Her family is very grateful for the Virtual Care Model that helped their daughter to take her first steps. Her mother told us:

‘My daughter’s sense of cognition was activated through these online sessions, now she can walk, she speaks some words and her reactions are faster.

‘At the beginning, it wasn’t easy for me but they supported me and my daughter until we could be independent. My uncles and relatives visit me much more now because they enjoy their time with Farah. They say that they come specially to see her.

‘The last thought in my mind is that my daughter has a disability. I’m a mother, empowering my child for a better future.’

NEW BEGINNING’S: LIFE VISION

We are incredibly proud of the work our partners do to aid those with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest. We are therefore delighted to announce our new partnership with Life Vision in Egypt.

Life Vision aims to empower children with visual impairments living in villages in Upper Egypt, fostering a safe community for them. At an individual level, Life Vision provides education, vocational training and assistive technologies. Within communities, they offer support to families and churches, and provide activities which children with and without disabilities can take part in together.

One of Life Vision's most important aims is to change the narrative around people with disabilities in Egypt, using the media as a tool to elevate their voices and share their stories.

We are proud and delighted to partner with Life Vision, who joins the ranks with our many partners who work to tackle the stigma surrounding disability in the Middle East.

If you're interested in learning more about our partners, make sure you check out our blog for stories and insights from the Middle East.