I have spoken once about the kind of discrimination happening at our center, which has made me finally give up my favorite student in the universe: G. Well, the unfairness is still going on, and on. I don't really understand. How can you be discriminated against in the only place you belong to. In the only place you're supposed to be EQUAL to others. I think its an issue that has never been at any other center. I don't want to believe that it is actually happening elsewhere, coz if thats the case, then we're waaaaaaaaaaaay behind inclusion.
When I first joined the center, I entered my classroom, which was full of spider webs, mosquitos, and dust. I had no tools to use, so I had to either create my own, or beg for some tools in other sections, borrow, or receive donations from my niece. I painted my walls, re-arranged the tables and chairs, and cleaned every corner of the classroom. No one really cared about whether I'm teaching or not. Whether I'm being productive or not. Whether my students are learning or not. The only thing that mattered was hiring a teacher for the poor little pathetic physically challenged section. To act as a babysitter while they leave the classroom for their therapy sessions.
I was actually trying my best to erase the past and start all over again, but I can't shut up while watching the other sections receiving the best reading books, when we get the left overs. I can't shut up when I see visitors going to the other sections, playing with their children, when we are always the hidden ones. The ones who shouldn't really appear except on tv's in order to look pathetic and represent the patheticness of people in the area of special needs. I can't shut up when others get the permission to buy new furniture from the ministry's budget, when we had to use whatever's available and live with it.
What brought up all those memories was the last normal school visit to our center. We were promised 3 times that normal children will be visiting us and playing with our children. Everytime we had to wait, and our children had to wait, until we actually saw them leaving the school's gate. I talked to the psychologist about it, and I didn't really know that she was responsible for those visits. She smiled out of shame, and gave fake excuses. One of the excuses was that a little girl cried and got so scared once she 'passed' by our section and saw one of our students.
Now this brings up another topic. Is it our fault if our children does not understand differences in others? Or is it the schools' fault for not explaining the concept "Individual Differences" to their students?
It was so painful. It hurt me so much that others can't see the beauty of our children.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
REHAB 2008
I have been, VERY LUCKILY, selected by the Ministry of Social Affairs to attend REHAB 2008--Dubai International Rehabilitation Forum, under the title: Beyond Inclusion & Partnership.
At the beginning I was informed that the Ministry is supposedly paying 5 thousand Dhs for us to attend. Exaggeration. A very usual thing that I see every single day at the center AND ministry. Ofcourse we were not allowed to attend the conference at the beginning since no one has yet paid that GREAT amount of money. Again, a very expected thing. It turned out to be an amount of 370 Dhs only. Too much to pay for knowledge.
Anyways, it was somehow good. Some of the speakers were interesting. The organisation of the whole thing was perfect. I expected more of the exhibition, but I found an amazing assistive device that could help H to live a more productive life. The ministry's booth was very boring..not that interesting..poor quality. They spoke of things that were mostly only written on papers. They kept on talking and talking about the so-called law. Their powerpoint slides were OVERLOADED with words and letters.
What I really found interesting was the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City booth and the KSA guest speakers in general. The booth was FULL of professionals from the field who actually work at special needs centers. Saudi teachers, Saudi therapists, Saudi administrators. Their presentations were so perfect. I've also met the first Art Therapist in the Arab World who is also from the KSA which was interesting. Maybe I should type a post about Creative Art Therapies that are being used elsewhere since a long time, but no one has spoken about such therapies yet in our region.
Overall, I concluded the whole thing in few points:
1. the ministry should stop blabbing and start taking actions
2. we REALLY need more professionals in the field who are U.A.E. nationals
3. people should appreciate and encourage the U.A.E.'s "baby steps" towards a better integration of people with special needs, instead of only mentioning the negatives
4. maryam noor must be banned from entering Dubai ever again for her whole entire pathetic life
5. we have a number of organisations and centers for special needs in the U.A.E. (private & government). if we all stick together, we will certainly be the change. unfortunately, what i have only seen between us is negative competition over fundings, donations, and different projects.
6. i would certainly encourage exchanging knowledge and experiences amongst professionals in the field through trips, more conferences, and perhaps create a forum for us to be a part of.
At the beginning I was informed that the Ministry is supposedly paying 5 thousand Dhs for us to attend. Exaggeration. A very usual thing that I see every single day at the center AND ministry. Ofcourse we were not allowed to attend the conference at the beginning since no one has yet paid that GREAT amount of money. Again, a very expected thing. It turned out to be an amount of 370 Dhs only. Too much to pay for knowledge.
Anyways, it was somehow good. Some of the speakers were interesting. The organisation of the whole thing was perfect. I expected more of the exhibition, but I found an amazing assistive device that could help H to live a more productive life. The ministry's booth was very boring..not that interesting..poor quality. They spoke of things that were mostly only written on papers. They kept on talking and talking about the so-called law. Their powerpoint slides were OVERLOADED with words and letters.
What I really found interesting was the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City booth and the KSA guest speakers in general. The booth was FULL of professionals from the field who actually work at special needs centers. Saudi teachers, Saudi therapists, Saudi administrators. Their presentations were so perfect. I've also met the first Art Therapist in the Arab World who is also from the KSA which was interesting. Maybe I should type a post about Creative Art Therapies that are being used elsewhere since a long time, but no one has spoken about such therapies yet in our region.
Overall, I concluded the whole thing in few points:
1. the ministry should stop blabbing and start taking actions
2. we REALLY need more professionals in the field who are U.A.E. nationals
3. people should appreciate and encourage the U.A.E.'s "baby steps" towards a better integration of people with special needs, instead of only mentioning the negatives
4. maryam noor must be banned from entering Dubai ever again for her whole entire pathetic life
5. we have a number of organisations and centers for special needs in the U.A.E. (private & government). if we all stick together, we will certainly be the change. unfortunately, what i have only seen between us is negative competition over fundings, donations, and different projects.
6. i would certainly encourage exchanging knowledge and experiences amongst professionals in the field through trips, more conferences, and perhaps create a forum for us to be a part of.
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