Jameela Al Qasimi: SCHS chronicles special education in UAE

This came in the virtual lecture delivered by the Director General of the SCHS on Wednesday, 10 March 2021, titled “Special Education in the UAE”, at the invitation of the College of Education at the American University in the UAE, and was attended by Prof. Dr. Muthanna Abdul Razzaq, President and Executive Director of the University, and Prof. Dr. Mohamed Al Zeyoudi, Dean of the College Education at the university, Professor Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, Director of the SCHS, and a host of specialists, teachers and students of special education in the country and abroad.

During a brief presentation on the City, Sheikha  Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi explained that the City’s pioneering work with persons with disabilities, since its inception on October 20, 1979, revolves around their inclusion, advocacy and empowerment in accordance with international best practices, as it is the first Emirati institution specialised in serving them.

1923 persons with disabilities benefited from SCHS services in 2020
In 2020 only, 1923 people with disabilities of various nationalities benefited from the services of the City, served by 628 employees, 64 of whom were persons with disabilities. The City is a role model for employing persons with disabilities and supporting them in achieving their economic and social independence. It urges the community to fulfill its responsibilities towards them in all fields.

She explained that, since its establishment four decades ago, the City has witnessed an expansion of its departments and centres in response to the needs of the community, and has three branches in Khorfakkan, Al Dhaid and Kalba. Moreover, during the past year, it obtained the accreditation of the two international institutions of CARF and Pearson.
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Speaking about the leadership of the City, Sheikha  Jameela mentioned how the city was the first to adopt the sport of persons with disabilities by establishing and embracing Al Thiqah Club for Handicapped in 1987, and the first to issue a specialised monthly magazine in the same year, namely “Al Manal”, which has gone electronic since 2012 , in addition to pioneering achievements aimed at educating and integrating people with disabilities and improving their quality of life. 

American University is ready to offer scholarships for SCHS students with disabilities
Professor Muthanna Abdul Razzaq, in an intervention, expressed the pride of the American University in the UAE in cooperating with ancient and pioneering institutions such as Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, welcoming eligible students with disabilities to pursue their university studies, providing them with scholarships.

A forum on special education in cooperation between the two sides
The President and CEO of the University also invited Sheikha  Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi to join the University’s Board of Trustees, in addition to signing a memorandum of understanding between the two sides and working to organise a “forum” on special education in the nearest future. 

Director General of the SCHS accepted Prof. Dr. Muthanna’s invitation with great thanks, stressing that the cooperation between the two sides will witness further progress and reciprocal visits in order to support the independence of persons with disabilities and to enhance their education, training and integration into society 

Issues and rights of persons with disabilities is an approach that SCHS adopts
During the lecture, Sheikha  Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi touched on a set of key points, including the principle of self-advocacy and the importance of training persons with disabilities to claim their rights. She also talked about the importance of inclusion (integration), stressing that it is tantamount to returning the right to its owners because their natural place is within society and that education is one of the most important tools for their desired empowerment. 

A call for proper inclusion
Director General of the SCHS also asked, while referring to international laws that call for educational integration, “Are we ready for proper integration?” Modern special education includes different ages for people with disabilities with an individual educational plan for each person, but schools (in general) are not prepared to receive students. People with disabilities and teachers do not have the training tools required to deal with them optimally.
     
Spotlight on professional challenges  
She also asked: “Is work in special education a job or a responsibility?) As it is known, the responsibility of the ordinary employee ends with the end of their work hours. As for the workers in the field of special education, they are associated with the student’s education, support for his family and community awareness, and they face the risks and challenges of the profession such as anxiety, attrition, helplessness and weak motivation, and recently the challenge of working remotely due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Mentioning these challenges were not meant to spread despair from working in this field, but rather for preparing well to face them.

There is no doubt - as Sheikha  Jameela asserts - that the existence of legislations and laws contributes to achieving better results and ensuring that persons with disabilities obtain their rights in addition to protecting those working with them. However, gaps still exist and weak implementation is there.

The ethical work charter is a top priority
During the lecture, Sheikha Jamila spoke about the charter of ethical work in special education to serve as a contract by which values based on respect, the delivery of information and their sharing, and the concern not to offend, are protected. She also spoke about following up on developments in this field because it is a changing field that requires constant follow-up of the latest global achievements.

Utilising technology to serve people with disabilities
She also focused on the issue of technology and how to invest it in education, support and preparation to face shocks and deal with them in favour of the educational process. Here, she emphasised the importance of funding for education and how poverty negatively affects the education of persons with disabilities due to the costs that their education requires while many families are unable to pay for tuition and equipment.

The Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services discussed the issue of learning difficulties, referring to the (Sharjah Centre for Learning Difficulties), which was established in 2016 and is run by the City seeking to provide the best services to its members, but despite this, there are many challenges in this regard, whether in schools, universities, or within the family itself.

In this context, Sheikha  Jameela stressed the need to involve families from the beginning in the educational process, given the great role that the family plays in cooperation with the Centre or SCHS.

Importance of recreation on the growth and development of individuals
Sheikha  Jameela  also talked about the topic of recreation and its importance on the growth and learning of individuals in general and persons with disabilities in particular, noting that raising and discussing these issues does not aim to underestimate the great achievements that the UAE has witnessed in the field of special education, but rather represents an attempt for continuous building on what was established, leading to a better reality for everyone.

Recommendations
In conclusion, Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services made a set of recommendations, the Ethical Charter came at the forefront given its importance in the field of special education, developing strategies for the protection of persons with disabilities and reporting harm, and training all education students on the principles of special education while providing workers with all the tools that protect and help them in their psychological and mental health, as well as the commitment of universities to include specialisations such as supportive technologies and art therapy, establishing a resource centre to support students with disabilities in universities, and making the profession of work in special education attractive through appropriate support and care.