Family serves as pillar in advocating for disabled people

September 17, 2025 / 5:39 PM

Sharjah 24: On the third day of the World Congress 2025 "We Are Inclusion", hosted by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services at Expo Centre Sharjah, Dr Talat Mansour, Professor of Mental Health at the Faculty of Education at Ain Shams University in Egypt, highlighted the pivotal role of the family during a workshop titled "The Family: A Strategic Front for Self-Advocacy for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities." “The Family’s Role in Self-Advocacy for People with Intellectual Disabilities”

During the session, Dr Mansour emphasized that the family is the foundation and primary supporter of the comprehensive support and self-advocacy movement for persons with disabilities, praising its glorious history and the rich journey it has made in this field, which we must recognize and appreciate.

He also reviewed the global historical context of this role, explaining that since the 1970s, families of people with disabilities in international communities—especially the United States—have formed influential pressure groups. Through litigation and persistent advocacy, these groups have succeeded in securing their children's basic rights to health, education, care, and a dignified life, and have contributed to creating a decent place for them within society.

He concluded by extending his respect and appreciation to all families of people with disabilities, emphasizing that society as a whole must support and empower them to achieve "family resilience," which is the foundation that enables them to continue their pioneering role in advocacy and advocacy.