Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Vice President of Sharjah Family Supreme Council and Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) became an Honoree Member in the Arab Union of the Blind AUB.

She thanked the union for its non-profit efforts in rehabilitating, educating, and providing knowledge to the blind and visually impaired.

Dr. Khaled Ali Noaimi, Chairperson of the Arab Union of the Blind AUB, has sent a number of publications printed in Braille via Qatar embassy in the United Arab Emirates to SCHS.

AUB plans to provide publications in Braille based on a strategy which extends to 2020 and aims at educating, rehabilitating, and employing the blind and visually impaired. These publications include the Manual of Human Resources, which is a mutual cooperation between AUB and the Qatari Parliament, Criminal Law which is a mutual cooperation between AUB and District Attorney’s Office, and Labor Law in cooperation with the Qatari Ministry of Labor. According to the recommendations by AUB, SCHS has become a member in the union due to its wide reputation and great experience in humanitarian work. These negotiations took place in Morocco on 10th, January 2011.

Sheikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi has been chosen as an honoree member due to her insightful vision, deep experience, and determination that promises a better future for AUB.

Major General Hamid Mohammed Hadidi, Head of Sharjah Police Department, is very proud to provide assistant to Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates who aims at providing education, advocacy, and independence for people with disabilities under the General Directorship of Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi.

The cooperation between Sharjah Police and SCHS is a very productive and socially relevant one.

Sharjah Police is carrying out a security program in about 21 different schools, including primary, preparatory, and high schools. At the end of the year the police department will evaluate students’ performance with the hopes of improving and implementing modifications for coming events.

Sharjah Police are working hard to educate teachers on security measures, which they in turn will explain to their students. Major General Hamid appreciates the efforts of SCHS’s Al Amal School wich has been an exceptional aid in providing the proper safety measures on roads. He said that Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of of the Emirate of Sharjah, has given his orders to police forces to protect the lives of innocent people from tragic accidents. Major General Hamid thanked Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi and SCHS staff and wished them all the best.

On Tuesday, March 15th, 2011, SCHS’s Al Amal School for the Deaf celebrated the 27th, Traffic Week under the theme “Together We Can Prevent Accidents”. The school activated Traffic Village.

The ceremony was attended by Corporal Araf Mohammed Shamsi, Head of Sharjah Traffic & Authorization Deptarment, Major Lieutenants Ahmed Shahel and Hamad bin Dicemal, Lieutenants Jamal Bu Afrah, Rashied Hamadi, and Ali Salih, Sergeants Samirah Abdel Kareem and Bashir Abdel Kareem.

The ceremony, which was initiated by the Activities Department of Al Amal School and supervised by Manal Abdel Latif and Marym Abdel Kareem, began with the national anthem for the United Arab Emirates followed by a blessed recitation from the Holy Quran by the deaf female student Misk Ali.

Mr. Ailais Tabah, Articulation Therapist, then gave a speech in which welcomed guests. He said that SCHS has become accustomed to the Sharjah Police Department’s positive and constructive contribution to people with disabilities. “It is not strange that Sharjah Police educates the public on traffic safety measures especially, the schools of Sharjah Educational Zone which includes Al Amal School”, he added.

Deaf students were pleased to see Major General Hamid Mohammed Hadidi and his police officers at the school to support and celebrate with them. They thanked them for their sincere feelings.

A number of acts in relation to traffic safety were performed by SCHS staff. Then, a play was displayed using dolls. Finally, Traffic Village was officially opened and students drove their mini cars according to the traffic rules which they had learned.

On Sunday, March 13th, 2011, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services’s Vocational Rehabilitation & Training Depart organized av(Bakhor), incense, workshop.

The workshop targeted students who graduated from SCHS’s Vocational Rehabilitation & Training Depart and their families. The event, which is part of SCHS’s “Productive Families Program”, is conducted in coordination with Sharjah Social Service Department.

It aims at motivating parents to help their disabled children to work at home and refine their skills accordingly. Due to the limited number of vacancies or job opportunities SCHS’s Vocational Rehabilitation & Training Department encouraged graduates from SCHS to take part in the “Productive Families Program”.

Mr. Amjad Tawhee said: “The program is designed to keep SCHS’s graduates occupied with mini projects to produce wages and advance skills until they find suitable jobs”. The program includes 14 families who participated in the first bakhor workshop. There are additional activities such as nutrition, accessories, wax, textile, and ceramic workshops. The program, moreover, provides graduates with the raw material and anything they might need for their industry. In addition, SCHS will organize many exhibitions in order to market these products. This will also provide a decent income for these families.

Mrs. Mai Mohsin Ahmed, an Art Teacher at SCHS, said that the main focus of this program is to motivate handicapped persons to get involved in mini projects that can be ran from home. “We are insisting on making this program work through dedication and strategic planning. We want each graduate to work according to his ability. It is an innovative way of creating new jobs. It is, also, a clever way to raise the awareness of people with disabilities who have rights to work”. A volunteer, Ayash Said, supervised the training and provided the families with all the necessary information to continue the production of this product.

The delegation included students from SCHS’s Al Amal School for the Deaf, a number of teachers, and administrators.

Mrs. Hanan Zaki displayed a videotape about the school’s long journey in education, and the services it provides by specialists such as articulation therapy. The school, moreover, uses modern technology and advanced tools to teach students such as electronic blackboards. The videotape displayed the school’s accomplishments regarding activities, practical projects, and sports.

H.E Tariq Sultan Bin Khadam appreciates the rapid development of SCHS who has become a pioneer institute in the field of disability. Thanks to Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed who has given great care of all parts of the community, especially those who need special care like the disabled.

The coordination between both sides is consistent in order to provide a higher standard of life for people with disabilities. The two institutes are doing are combining their specialties to integrate people with disabilities into the public and private sectors. There is a place for those students in the Directorate’s futuristic projects, plans, and employment. Arrangements will be made on public and private facilities to make them accessible and less intimidating for those who experience working for the first time.

The chairman of the Directorate of Human Resources has emphasized the quality of work that two deaf employees Asmah Fardan and Asad Hafith have accomplished stating that, “They are dedicated and hard workers. They have a great commitment to working hours, and are skilled in data processing as well as are clever.” He also appreciates the cooperation between Al Thiqa Club for the Handicapped and SCHS. The club is always open for handicapped persons to practice various sports under the supervision of club trainers and administrators.

SCHS’s deaf students were very pleased by H.E Tariq Sultan Bin Khadam’s great interest in them. They hoped to find a suitable job after graduation. Mrs. Manal Abdel Latif is pleased with this warm visit. She highly appreciated the plans of the Directorate of Human Resources—United Arab Emirates—Sharjah Government. Mr. Khaled Nofal said that in comparison with other disabilities, deaf persons are special in relation to psychology and physicality. They have exceptional capabilities and extraordinary innovations that require constant motivation and support. They should be allowed in all tournaments. H.E Tariq responded to these proposals by saying: “We have never stopped supporting them. There are special programs for them in our plans and the plans for the UAE Disabled Sports Federation. Therefore, they have to commit themselves to participating in these plans.” Mr. Bassem Abdel Ghafar thanked H.E Tariq who has an ambitious vision of motivation and support to people with disabilities.

To conclude the visit, the student Yousif Mohammed Abdullah presented an award to H.E Tariq who afterwards provided visitors with a tour on the different sections of the Directorate. Among SCHS’s delegation were the deaf students Abdel Salam Mohammed, Yousif Swadi, and others. Sign language interpretation was provided through by Mr. Wael Sammir.

Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) is a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates who aims at providing education, advocacy, and independence for people with disabilities under the General Directorship of Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi.

To know more about it, please visit http://www.schs.ae

Mr. Wael Allam, Technical Director of SCHS’s Early Intervention Center, a number of specialists, trainers, and parents were present. “Autism varies across the world from one out of 150 to one out of 200 children.In many countries autism statistics are fairly consistent and there’s no reason to believe that the UAE is any different,” Dr. Zahear said. “Autism is a disorder that affects children’s social and emotional behavioral development,” he added. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.

The hallmark feature of ASD is impaired social interaction. A child’s primary caregivers are usually the first to notice signs of ASD. As early as infancy, a baby with ASD may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with ASD may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement. Children with ASD may fail to respond to their names and often avoid eye contact with other people. They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don’t watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. They lack empathy. Many children with ASD engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging. They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “me.” Children with ASD don’t know how to play interactively with other children. Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking.

Scientists aren’t certain about what causes ASD, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder. Studies of people with ASD have found irregularities in several regions of the brain. Other studies suggest that people with ASD have abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain. These abnormalities suggest that ASD could result from the disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and that regulate how brain cells communicate with each other, possibly due to the influence of environmental factors on gene function. There is no cure for ASD. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that meet the specific needs of individual children. Most health care professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better. Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with ASD often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with a child with ASD.

Mrs. Ebeer Ahmed, a member in SCHS’s Early Intervention Center Lectures & Workshops Committee, confirmed that her team has distributed a questionnaire on parents to find out what topics that require more lectures. Most of the answers were ASD. Thus, the team contacted Dr. Zahear Dean, who responded to this invitation quickly.

To conclude the lecture, Mr. Wael Allam, Technical Director of SCHS’s Early Intervention Center, thanked the lecturer for providing such useful information and his willingness to answer the audience’s questions.

In addition, Mrs. Maha Jamal, Head of Training Programs at SCHS’s, presented an award to the lecturer and wished him the best of luck.

Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Vice President of Sharjah Family Supreme Council and Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates who aims at providing education, advocacy, and independence for people with disabilities, commenced the Ninth Charitable Bazar along with The School of Creative Sciences (Ebdaa) on Wednesday, March 9th, 2011.

SCHS will allocate a part of the revenues to continue providing services for people with disabilities, the remaining portion of the revenues will go to the Supportive Committee of Sharjah Family Supreme Council, established to improve the services of the health sector in the Emirate of Sharjah.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Waled Ramadan, The School of Creative Sciences (Ebdaa) Principal, Mr. Jihad Abdel Qader, Head of SCHS’s Finance Department, Ms. Moza Al Ali, Representing Sharjah Educational Zone, and parents. Mrs. Rafidah Hejja, Head of the Arabic Department, gave a speech on behalf of Mr. Salah Bu Khatr, Chairman of The School of Creative Sciences, to welcome visitors. The student Maroa Oeis was the host of the ceremony.

The first performance was by fourth grade female students, who chanted a song about Arabic language. Another performance by the student Ayash Zahead was about the Islamic sayings of music. The act was performed in English. Sheikha Jameela appreciated Ebdaa School work in organizing this Bazar as a regular event.

The Bazar has many humanitarian under tones and cultural and educational values such as emphasizing the concept of voluntarily work to youth. Sheikha Jameela was very happy to see visitors, especially students, interact positively in the Bazar. This year’s Bazar has a variety of products and activities that attracted visitors in large numbers.

Mrs. Nadia abu Asbah, who is in charge of the Bazar, provided Sheikha Jameela with a tour on the different sections of the Bazar. Mr. Waled remarks about the event were insightful. He said: “The Bazar plays a vital role in emphasizing the concept of voluntarily work to youth. It encourages people to support people with disabilities. It is our responsibility to advance our society”. He advised other charities and corporations to follow the lead of the School of Creative Sciences and SCHS.

According to Ms. Maryam Said Radwan, Activities Coordinator in Ebdaa School, the participation of the public this year is enormous. Activities such as photography, painting, and acting were included. Products include handmade crafts, souvenirs, toys, and stories for children.

The Bazar is motivating visitors to provide assistant to those who need it. Mr. Jihad Abdel Qader affirmed that the Bazar’s has had a significant since its inception. Ebdaa School cares very much about providing financial support for those with disabilities and supporting the work of SCHS. He thanked Mr. Salah Bu Khatr and the school’s administration for their great trust and support to SCHS. He also thanked parents, Sharjah Educational Zone, and the Ministry of Education for approving the happening. Nadia abu Asbah pointed out that the schools efforts to raise students’ awareness regarding issues about the disabled through activities like the morning lineup and other activities. Thankfully, students’ response to these stimulations is great. Friday will be dedicated to the schools administrators and staff. Nadia hopes that other schools organize similar activities.