Today marks the day of celebration and the appreciation of the people of determination who struggle in life to prove, that the human spirit is a gift from God that must be valued, revered and merged.
* ‘Misr Tastatee’ (Egypt Can)
In Egypt, several important steps have been taken to integrate people with special abilities into the community and the media system.
DMC satellite channel has taken upon itself to present two successful models; the first broadcaster Radwa Mahmoud who started her work from the summer of 2018, and Rahma Khaled, who entered in December 2018 as a program presenter in Sabah DMC program to achieve her dream.
There is no doubt that the record of sports tournaments is full of Egypt`s champions, including champion Fatima Omar, champion of Egypt's world weightlifting for the disabled.
** A Lebanese experience
When I traveled to southern Lebanon immediately after the Israeli withdrawal from it, I met one of the families- family of Professor Mohammad Al-Zein and Ms. Amena Arzouny. They had a small school for children with special needs.
They told me that during the years of occupation, roads were closed. The closing of the streets led to delaying the arrival of pregnant women to hospitals. This also caused shortage of oxygen for children who became exposed to various kinds of disabilities that were not absorbed by public schools.
The family started thinking about an alternative and created a small school for people of special needs. They started to integrate them into society.
They taught them the basics of life and scientific study, besides learning a craft that could earn them a living and not become dependent on their families.
They qualified to work as bakers. They even baked Man'oucheh to be the breakfast meal to all members of the Hanan School in Tyre, Lebanon.
Some of Hanan School members learned the profession of shaving and worked as barbers for the school`s students. After the children grew up and were about to graduate, they began to think about opening areas of livelihood.
The school opened a small shop to its graduates where they sell popcorn and fresh juice. The students travel with Arazouni to other places to make the world hear their voices and to tell the world that they can work.
Al Hanan Madrasa/ school tendered their request to Lebanese authorities, who are not paying attention to people with disabilities, to allocate funds to them and to provide teachers their salaries which have delayed for several months.
Noteworthy, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was declared by the United Nations` General Assembly since 1992.
The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.
It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
It was originally called "International Day of Disabled Persons" until 2007. Each year the day focuses on a different issue.
Contributed by Ahmad El-Assasy
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