On Saturday, October 25, 2014 the MAS community center in Alexandria, Virginia hosted for the 5th consecutive year an Eid Celebration for children with Special Needs and Disabilities that brought families from as far as Richmond and Baltimore to enjoy the many indoor and outdoor activities.
Organized by Sister Rasha Abulohom, the impetus for this event was the birth of her brother, 17 years her junior, with autism. Learning about his disability eventually led her to pursue a career in the teaching profession working with children with autism but on a personal front, she was frustrated going with her family to events where there would be long lines or where her brother would act out and the community would not be understanding.
She realized that an event where families facing the same challenges could come together to support one another in a safe space was much needed. Indeed I spoke with two different mothers, both originally from Sudan, about how important this event has been to them over the years to feel connected. One who has a 10 year old non-verbal autistic son says she likes to be in a place where nobody is judging and where her other kids can also enjoy themselves with their siblings in a comfortable environment. The other mother mentioned that she just finished speaking at the school her child will be attending next year when transitioning to middle school as part of October disability month to counter ignorance and promote tolerance. Both agreed it would be nice to have more frequent events of this nature and then some could be opened up to raise awareness within the general Muslim community.
Joanna Beituni, a volunteer at the Islamic Relief sensory tent outdoors (where could be found bins of rice and sand and stress balls), worked with autistic children while in college. She spoke about how tactile activities and textures help the children focus and that sensory breaks, especially in the school setting, help them to relax and better interact with their peers.
Islamic Relief has provided financial resources to the event every year but this year decided they also wanted to have a staged area for their volunteers to interact with the children. Just nearby, indoors, (and fully accessible by wheelchair ramp), were many other sensory tables with activities ranging from finger painting to play dough to life skill exercises such as cupcake frosting. There was also a less stimulating room called the quiet room which was dark except for sparkley garlands of soft light and a bubble machine. Many a child could be found there with a parent just having a calm moment before moving back outside to the moon bounces or the all popular pony rides. But most youth of all ages seemed to enjoy most the petting zoo complete with a baby calf, goats, rabbits and many types of feathered fowl. A very poignant moment was watching Naem, a teen with a vision impairment, completely enraptured while stroking a goose. Says Bushra Nusairat, a MAS volunteer for the past four years, ?this carnival is a no-brainer and these kids deserve this day?. Indeed, these kids deserve more than this once yearly event sponsored by Dar Al Hijrah and ADAMS with support from United Muslim Relief. Sr Rasha and the many parents said they would love to see many ongoing events as well as a celebratory day held for each of the two Eids if they can muster up additional community support and funding. For this one special day together, the children participated in no less than a modified prayer in congregation, a tawaf around a small Ka'bah, posed for a special photo souvenir of them at Makkah made by an ingenuous computer graphics team, and finally were able to select an age-appropriate donated gift collected by Islamic Relief.
Again from one of the mothers who just returned to the states after residing abroad ?overseas there was this culture of hiding kids with disabilities. Here we take them out and they can do everything we do as a family with the right support and structure.? Our masajid and community centers need to be welcoming spaces and embrace the many types of families in their midst.
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