Damascus-SANA
Between education, rehabilitation and care, the roles of institutes affiliated with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor dealing with people with disabilities vary. Their free services have not stopped despite the repercussions of the war and the economic blockade, and they have continued to work amid difficulties related to the lack of qualified cadres and requirements that facilitate the movement of people with disabilities and accomplish tasks.
SANA monitored the work of some social welfare institutes and the difficulties they encounter, and from the Institute for the Hearing Impaired in Damascus, which receives about 300 students. Its director, Sawsan Rizk, explained that the institute offers the curriculum of the Ministry of Education from the first grade to the third grade literary secondary in sign language through specialists and translators, in addition to giving speech lessons to train Students find letters by vibrating sounds.
Rizk expressed her happiness with the success of seven of the institute's students in the ninth and 4th grade exams in the secondary literary section this year to complete their university education in the faculties of education, libraries and sociology, noting that the institute also allows students to participate in sports, cultural and artistic activities to teach them skills that open up fields of work for them later. It enables them to integrate into society.
And from the Al-Noor Institute for the Care and Rehabilitation of Children with Cerebral Palsy, which provides services to 60 boys and girls from the age of months to 14 years, and according to its director, Zulekha Bazo, includes physical therapy, rehabilitation, education and skills development in a special section for early intervention in which, along with the institute’s specialists, a family member, especially the mother In turn, she will follow up the physiotherapy plan at home. It also provides educational services for children from 6 to 14 years old, by teaching the curriculum of the Ministry of Education.
Bazo spoke about the difficulties encountered in the work in terms of the lack of specialized cadres for training at the institute and the lack of transportation to secure the transportation of students and their families to and from the institute.
And to the Social Care Institute for Adults with Cerebral Palsy, which includes, as its director, Izzat Al-Saleh, an educational department and a vocational training department in simple crafts such as beadwork, canvas, drawing and coloring, and rehabilitative services such as behavior modification and skill development, as well as physical therapy and speech.
The director of the institute, which has a capacity of 65 students, pointed out to the difficulties encountered in working in terms of a lack of cadres as observers for students while they are in the courtyard and accompanying them in the means of transportation to help them.
Physically handicapped who are not received by the Ministry of Education schools as a result of their health status, the Al-Amal Institute for People with Mobility Disabilities opens its doors to them and provides them, according to its director, Faryal Hamed, with educational and therapeutic services, and provides them with supplies and aids that facilitate their movement, in addition to surgical operations.
As for the Intellectual Disability Institute, according to its director, Aisha Hamdan, it provides educational services based on curricula that help in developing the child's personality, developing his creative abilities, developing his critical thinking, time management abilities and solving problems to make him more integrated into society, in addition to activities to modify behavior, rehabilitation and training in daily life, pointing to the disparity of mental abilities. Between one student and another, and there are cases that need special attention.
At the Institute of Special Education for the Blind in Damascus, a special curriculum is offered for 150 students, as mentioned by its director, Nada Abu al-Shamat, in Braille, which is the method of raised letters, in addition to the basic principles of the computer through a speaking program through which they can access it and social media, as well as training in professions such as knitting, canvas and accessories. The student has a certificate certified by the ministry that qualifies him to enter the labor market.
Abu Al-Shamat indicated the institute's need for Braille devices to teach typing to enable the blind to read by touch.
Amer Deeb