Eid in the Eyes of Children with Special Needs
The process of integrating people with special needs into society constitutes an essential pillar of social development, considering that they are an integral part of society.
As part of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations and to emphasize its media role towards them, Qatar TV broadcast a special episode of the program “Assakom Min Awadah” with people with special needs to share in the joy of Eid and express their feelings about the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
During her participation in the program, the child Hind Abdul Rahman Al-Awadi, who herself is with special needs, spoke about her celebration of Eid and her overwhelming joy on this blessed occasion, and she talked about her mother's help her in choosing the orange Eid dress, stressing that her mother left her to choose the color of the Eid dress.
For his part, Abdulaziz Al-Muraikhi, who has special needs, said that he collected large sums of money from the "Eidiya", and that after Eid, he will go to the mall with his family to buy cars and toys, pointing out that he will allow children to play with him in his new cars.
Experts said, according to a Qatar TV report, that this category of children should experience the same feeling as healthy children on the day of Eid, and the responsibility for that lies with the parents in preparing and informing them of this occasion and its rituals, as children usually prepare for the day of Eid and want it to come, and for them, it is a day of joy, new clothes, meeting relatives and playing with friends, and this also applies to children with special needs.
In order to integrate people with special needs into society, a number of steps are recommended to be followed in this field, especially: Informing the child with disabilities in advance, about the meaning of the Eid and the rituals that are practiced on this day, teaching him the vocabulary of the Eid al-Fitr day and dealing with him on an equal basis with any other child in terms of buying new clothes Presenting gifts and others, and accompanying him to the mosque to perform prayers, as well as accompanying him on visits to relatives and neighbors to feel the interest, which helps in spreading the spirit of joy in him.
For her part, Dr. Hala Saeed, a psychiatrist, expert, and advisor for people with disabilities, said: “Social integration is very important for children with disabilities, regardless of the type and degree of their disability, stressing that this gives them confidence in themselves and makes them feel that they are part of society and that they have rights and duties.”
She also pointed out in this context that Qatari society has reached an advanced stage in the process of integrating people with special needs into society, as it accepts them anywhere without any surprise, and in return, people with special needs also have no fear or isolation from healthy people in society.
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