Association of Disabled Child
Definition:

Children born with additional needs are a real problem that threatens society as a whole, as a few years later their numbers significantly increase and they would be in a different age categories, hence, burdening a society where a healthy person already has no one to help
him/her financial problems and responsibilities amidst this deteriorating social situation. So
how would it be for those who cannot help themselves meet their daily needs and movements, especially that no one has time nowadays to look after his/her brother or sister if they cannot afford paying expensive costs to help them since the first months to walk and then to train on speech. We live in a society where the state assistance is restricted to an ID card that entitles the holder to get milk and diapers. This is what triggered elite of ladies who enjoy long experience in social work together to establish the first-of-a-kind Association of Disabled Child in Saida and neighboring areas. This association is aimed at providing the cost of the child treatment from 0 months up to 5 years to help the child walk and then speak so that he/she can help himself/herself. Then at the age of 5, he/she can enroll at state-backed centers. Such children are then followed-up with to make sure they become individuals who are capable of looking after themselves.

Establishment of the Association:
This step crystallized at the beginning of 2010 as per notice No.1869 A/D, based on the fact this category of children are entitled to the assistance of society amidst this injustice done to them, specially that centers at institutions and associations entitled to conduct these therapy sessions are very expensive, and it is impossible that parents could afford such a cost. After conducting an initial study, we were alarmed to see this large number of children.
We even started to link the reasons that caused the mothers to deliver such children. Is it because of the agricultural pesticides? It is due to the substances used in wars that Lebanon has witnessed? Therefore, we launched our work, with no regards to denominations, sects or regions. We have found positive response from many women who volunteered to work with us, among whom were female doctors and specialists to help us determine the status if the child and the duration of therapy.

Objectives of the Association:
1- Be in charge of the expenses of the walking and speech therapy sessions as of the age of 2 months to 5 years for those who have Down syndrome.
2- Develop the independence of this category so that they can take part in all daily life matters.
3- Enhance the intellectual capacities and meet rehabilitation and social needs.
4- Support them and assist them to enroll in specialized centers so that they learn how to reply on themselves.
5- Seek to consolidate the relationship between them and society via awareness

Administrative Body:

The administrative body was elected under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior as follows:

• Anna Maria Hankir Honorary President
• Asma Ballouli Dirani President
• Nazha Alayli Vice-President
• Alia Khalife Secretary
• Shadia Hafni Treasurer
• Lawyer Najwa Safawi Officer of government affairs
• Thouraya Hashem Cultural Committee Officer
• Dr. Hoda Assi Health Committee Officer
• Rola Jradi Social Committee Officer

Strategy of Work

We started working on parallel lines. First, we started awareness in schools and universities for future moms so that they monitor themselves via awareness and
knowledge during pregnancy via monthly seminars. Second, we hold seminars to raise awareness of the society to accept these children and help in their treatment and not hide them at home because the problem will aggravate as the child grows
older.
We established our center located in the DT of Saida for those children with additional needs and it is well equipped to receive them for their therapy.
Moreover, it would serve as a place for the mother to bring her child in to spend some leisure time, especially that no one receives those children, neither in winter
nor in summer, and hence, they stay home, which negatively impacts their psyche.
We receive the child without any discrimination (nationality, religion,..) to determine his health and social status to provide the sessions of his treatment
(walking and speech sessions).
Activities of the Association:
– So far, more than 1000 children have benefit from our services since we were established and the number is in continuous increase.
– On Christmas, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha of every year, we complete the equipping of winter or intellectual game rooms based on the requests of the centers where we sent the children to get their treatment before starting doing
this directly in our center.
– On Christmas, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Easter, we gather clothes for around 500 children from different areas in Tyr, Sarafand, Saida and eastern Saida.
– Finally, we coordinate with all concerned international, Arab and local organizations to draft the rights of a child with additional needs.
– A member in the Lebanese Child Commission.
– A member in the Lebanese Women’s Council.
– A member in the Arab Gathering for the Disabled.