The Life Experiences of Twenty-One Women who Challenged ...

Volume XXII, No. 108, Winter 2005 45

Studies related to disability in the Arab world are still lim-ited and studies concerned with the status of disabledwomen are nearly non-existent. In order to fill the void Ihave conducted research work covering the experiencesof 21 women with disability in seven Arab countries. Byanalyzing the living history of these women the studyaims at deciphering the actual life conditions of womenwith disability in the Arab world. The objective is to high-light the areas of oppression and opportunities availableto disabled Arab women in comparison with women withdisability worldwide.

The study aims at enriching other people’s awareness ofthis issue through unveiling the factual conditions of dis-abled women in the Arab region. It also aims at obliter-ating all misconceptions about them. For this reason, thestudy intends to spread knowledge about this matter toa wider audience who should know about the potentialsand capacities of these women.

This study was conducted in November 2001. Theresearch commences by touching on women writers whodepicted the conditions of disabled women, and howother women activists view them. Discussions also tack-led some literary works about this issue written by dis-

abled women who are quite active and concerned aboutthis matter. These women were able to stir up the issueof the disabled woman and nudge it to attention.

The study tackles the experiences of 21 disabled womenin Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan andLebanon. Twelve of these women suffer from physicaldisability, one woman suffers from a hearing problem,another suffers a compound disability (blindness andmobility), and the other seven women are blind.

The research also included the various aspects of thesewomen’s lives and emphasized the most striking chal-lenges and complexities they have encountered, as wellas the ways they adopted to confront and overcomethese obstacles. Also mentioned are the times of suc-cessful achievements, and those of casual failures. Theresearch names those who offered assistance and sup-port to these disabled women, knowing that some ofthem never got any aid, yet managed to attain prominentposts through their own potential.

The first section of the study presents synopses of inter-views held with the above-mentioned women whereinthey relate their experiences. The second section contains

Jahda Abou Khalil

The Life Experiences of Twenty-One Womenwho Challenged Disability

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attain her goals, and that through her mind andintelligence she can achieve a great deal. Her mottoin life is: “I need the others as much as the othersneed me.”

Case 6: Rowaida Diab, PalestineShe suffers from infantile paralysis/ polio. Sheholds a Degree in Accounting and BusinessAdministration. Rowaida faced problems with theschool equipment and building facilities. She suf-fered from the hatred of some teachers who couldnot understand her situation. Rola also sufferedfrom other people’s opinion about her despite herparents’ consistent encouragement. Since she isremarkably unswerving and hardworking, Rolaestablished fruitful contacts with prominent insti-tutions. On the love side of her life, Rola failed,and consequently did not get married to the oneshe wanted, and so she marked that as one of herfailures in life. Her ambition has no ceiling.Finishing her studies tops all her priorities in life,and this prompts her to progress.

Case 7: Rima al-Khatib, LebanonShe is deaf, but her parents accepted and dealtwith her situation with tender loving care. In TheInstitute for Audio Phonetique Reeducation(IRAP), Rima found herself in her second homeand with a bigger family. Her disability created nohurdle for her as she managed to become a moth-er of two girls and one boy. Rima appears to bevery well integrated yet she cannot see herselfoutside the world of the deaf. She is married to ahearing person and instead of taking her to hisworld he was driven to hers.

Case 8: Saiida Housny, EgyptShe is blind and holds a Ph.D. in History. What isunique about her case is that despite remainingilliterate until the age of 16, Saiida succeeded inattaining the highest degrees, which reveals herstruggle and persistence. She did not fall for anypotential lover because she poured her heart intoher education, and so refused to burden herselfwith love and all its nightmares. Her greatest lovewas devoted to her scientific achievement and herPh.D. Saiida encountered difficulties with readingand writing, and transportation, but she managedto overcome all these with the assistance of others.

Cased 9: Sana’ Kawly, SyriaShe is a polio victim. She holds a Degree inBiology, and she also studied art on her own.During her stay in hospital for treatment she suf-fered health problems which augmented her psy-

chological suffering. Sana’ fell in love with apainter for 16 years, but she never got married tohim. He made her endure beyond limits, which ledher into a psychological crisis. Now Sana’ lives apsychologically stable life with her husband. Shesometimes denies her disability as she feels it isshackling her.

Case 10: Sawsan Shalaby, JordanShe suffers from infantile paralysis. She holds aDiploma in Nursing. The fact that she is a disabledwoman bothered her to a great extent, but shethen overcame it with the belief that with her will,she could achieve any goal. Sawsan never felt lovetowards her mother who used to differentiate herfrom her brothers. Her ability to overcome herhandicap is quite obvious in her marriage to a dis-abled young man in a wheel chair. Sawsan is nowa mother of four children.

Case 11: Sabah Hreish, Yemen She became blind at the age of 19. She believesthat her blindness is a divine act since she wasable to get rid of her previous, oppressive, tyranthusband. Sabah’s disability deprived her of read-ing, which she always loved, but with the assis-tance of her friends, she was later able to readand write in Braille. Sabah faced a basic difficultywith her instructor at the university when he for-bade her to continue her studies as he thoughtthat she was unable to do so; but nothing isimpossible for a persistent person such as Sabahwho is still continuing her studies in Psychology.The blindness she suffered from has turned intolight through her new marriage and the child sheis expecting.

Case 12: Aida Al-Shaishany, JordanShe suffers from quadriplegia. She is a clerk at theMinistry of Labor in Jordan. Aida used to feel thatshe had been a burden to her family, but her fam-ily exerted all effort to encourage her and help herrestore her ambitions in life. She got married to adisabled person, but then got divorced. Becomingan introvert nourished her belief that she couldlive on her own, and she did. She lived alone,drove her own car, and got her own job.

Case 13: Azza Mohammad Ali, Egypt She suffers from motor cerebral palsy. She holds aPh.D. in English Literature. Azza was deprived ofher mother owing to her parents’ divorce. She didnot have the chance to establish good relationswith them. She failed to get married and have afamily, and is now trying to compensate through

the synthesis of the conclusions reached by the researchas well as a display of the results of the questionnairesdistributed to disabled women, followed by the final con-clusions of the research.

Case 1: Ramona Sfeir, LebanonShe suffers from an obscure malfunction in herimmune system, which led to damaging her mus-cles. What attracts our attention in Ramona’s caseis her philosophy regarding her disability, whichled her to discover how to benefit from her situa-tion and build up herself as a citizen with rightsand duties. For that reason, Ramona decidedeither to be or not to be, and eventually, sherefused to equate her existence to her non-exis-tence. She longed to leave behind a positive tracein this life, and that was the aim that urged hernot to surrender. Ramona’s experience taught herto be fully aware, and to understand that a dis-abled child is not responsible for his disability, andthat it is essential that every family should traintheir children to respect all disabled persons.Ramona’s pure character is revealed through herincessant strife. She says that her spirit will keepon growing until it outgrows this tight shirt andtears it to elevate and roam in the realm of theunlimited spirit where there is no grief, sighing, orpain.

Case 2: Ibtisam Abatha, Egypt Her case reveals to us her ability to confront diffi-culties probably because she became blind duringher teenage years. She finished her studies at theUniversity of Cairo – Division of Philosophy andPsychology. Ibtisam views others with an eye of loveand respect because she considers that a humanbeing is not the sole fabricator of himself, but hiscircumstances place him in one mood or another.She feels that she possesses the ability to succeedand bear responsibility, and considers that life hasgiven her more than she deserves. This feeling isattributed to her faith in God who gives peoplemore than they deserve. Ibtisam also considers thather husband played an essential role in her life sincehe was always there to participate in her mentaldevelopment and family construction.

Case 3: Omaima Abu Shuwsha, Palestine She suffers from compound disability: visual andmobility. In spite of her disability her parentshelped her to overcome her situation. She has aDegree in Special Education and Psychology. Sheis also a committed activist in promoting and car-ing for disability rights as she believes that this isa case that she has to defend. Omaima’s disability

contributed to her failure and suffering in loverelations. Her lover did not adopt a protective atti-tude about his beloved, which left her with a deepwound.

Case 4: Jammala Al-Bidany, YemenShe holds a Diploma in Disability. She is polio vic-tim, but worse, she suffered from her parents’neglect and carelessness about her health; how-ever, her grandmother looked after her. Jammala’sfather’s harsh behavior affected her life since hedid not act toward her as a loving, caring father,nor did her brothers, who did not manifest anybrotherly bond regarding her. Consequently,Jammala had to start work at the age of 15,which aided in overcoming some obstacles abouther disability. She also worked arduously in look-ing for disabled persons who are rejected in theirhomes, and helped in getting them out of that sit-uation. She even defended the right of the dis-abled to learn, and played a major role in gettingthe authorities to issue a decree in 1999-2000protecting this right. She wishes to be a motherwith no limits and be responsible for every dis-abled child. As for her ambitions, Jammala dreamsof becoming a member of parliament in order forher to defend the cause of the marginalized dis-abled people.

Case 5: Rola El-Helou, LebanonShe suffers from paraplegia. She holds a universityDegree in Arabic Language and Literature. Roladealt with her disability with full confidence andacceptance owing to the ample assistance shereceived from her parents. Her sister and brothersalso accepted her case and helped her. This over-whelming support armed her with consistentcourage and the ability to confront her reality sinceshe believes that he who tries to forget reality is aweak person, whereas the one who accepts it isstrong. Assertiveness found its way to her so as notto seclude herself in the corner, and she adoptedthe motto: “I will destroy anyone who tries todestroy me.” Rola is obviously independent becauseshe makes her decisions by herself. She faced diffi-culties when she tried to enter the LebaneseUniversity for there were no building facilities orequipment especially designed for disabled persons.However, with her friends’ assistance she overcamethese difficulties. Rola played an effective role inrehabilitating and furnishing the UNESCO Palace.Her ambition is to write a poetry book. Rola failed inher love life since, as she put it, her disability push-es guys away. However, she never gives up andbelieves that through courage and audacity she can

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working with children whom she loves as thoughthey were her own.

Case 14: Ghada Hasan, Jordan She is blind, and holds a Master’s Degree inEnglish Literature. Despite her disability, Ghadadoes not feel she had a different childhood. Shedid everything children do with the help of herparents. Ghada loves challenges and adventures,and she believes that it is her duty to work onaltering other people’s attitudes. She adoptedchallenge as a principle not a personal attitude.Ghada encountered various forms of challengeand attitudes, but she always proved to othersthat she possesses high potential and is able tosucceed.

Case 15: Fatima Al-Akel, Yemen She is blind, and holds a Degree in Philosophy anda Diploma in Islamic Studies. Fatima scored numer-ous scientific achievements, and she owes this toher persistence and refusal to surrender to her dis-ability. Being well off has helped her to attain someposts, whereas on the sentimental level, she failedto get committed to the one she wanted. But theidea of motherhood still lingers in her mind. Herfather played a major role in her life.

Case16: Leila Atshan, PalestineShe is blind, but her parents’ intensive passionhelped her overcome her handicap. She holds aMaster’s Degree in Psychological and SocialSciences. She worked as a psychological andsocial advisor for immigrants from Denmark.Leila’s ambition is to open doors to the Arab worldto share humane awareness-raising as this is hervocation. She also feels that it is everyone’s duty towork for all human beings.

Case 17: Mounira Bin Hindi, BahrainThe posts that Mounira, a polio victim, has occu-pied are enough evidence of her ambitions anddefiance of her disability. She is the Head ofMobility International in Bahrain and GeneralManager of Children’s Gardens whose aim is tointegrate physically disabled children. She is also amember of the Higher Council of the NationalInstitution for Disabled Services, and the Head ofthe National Committee for Providing Work forthe Disabled, and the Vice President of the ArabOrganization of Disabled People. She also worksas a Coordinator and Training Specialist at theMinistry of Labor and Social Affairs. Mounira wasentirely supported by her family, which helpedenable her to integrate into society despite the

general trend of casting pity on the disabled. Thesupport of Mounira’s parents is what stands out inher case.

Case 18: Najah Al-Awabdy, SyriaShe was born with physical defects. She did notattend school because of her parents who did notaccept her disability. She did not even leave homeuntil the age of 15. Her first outing was to partakein her First Communion at church. By this outing,the society around her created a new shock forher, which made her stay home again. She learnthow to read and write by herself, and was able tofinish her Brevet degree at home. She is computerliterate, but her father did not help her progress inthis field despite her love for learning; instead, hecared only for her brothers’ education. Najah expe-rienced difficult situations in her private life athome where they viewed her disability as shame-ful, and thus rejected her case. This has reflectednegatively on her educational, social, and love life.

Case 19: Nada Al-Azzaz from LebanonThough blind, Nada finished her MA in Sociology.She now works at a bank in Lebanon, but herindividuality and seclusion in living alone at homeprove her willingness to shun society and rely onherself despite being robbed twice. Nada’s parentsplayed a vital role by granting her confidence andunlimited freedom. Her mother was her pressingincentive that urged Nada to live her life like anyother normal girl.

Case 20: Nahla Ghandour, Lebanon She is a polio victim. Her family treated her withprofound care and love, and so she was able tofinish a Degree in Computer Science. Now sheworks as Director of a center for rehabilitatingchildren who suffer from EMC. She is also special-ized in occupational therapy for disabled children.Nahla failed in her marriage; her husband used tobeat her and swear at her, which augmented herdisability problem. This issue had the strongestimpact on her, but her son and daughter were herincentive to prove her motherhood. Nahla is anincessant researcher into the affairs of paralyzedchildren, and she always tries her best to utilizeher ambition to improve children’s situations.

Case 21: Heba Hagrass, Egypt She suffers from a mobility disability. She holds anMA in Sociology in issues related to gender, dis-ability and marriage. She is a Member of theExecutive Committee of the Arab Organization ofDisabled People. Heba passed her university peri-

od trying to integrate into the society. She has asuccessful marriage life with her cousin and theyhave a son and a daughter. She and her husbandview the disabled as human beings, and so suc-ceeded in rearing their children on the soundmentality they have. In this experience, we shouldnot forget the role of Heba’s mother in supportingher daughter psychologically, and also her fatherwho supported her educationally. Having the twinsupport of her parents, Heba could launch herselfin this life just like any other girl.

In the second section of this research, the study displays theresults of the questionnaires, which posed 15 questionsabout disabled Arab women. In a conclusive summary it isdetected that the signs of empowerment and their ele-ments emerge through the personal ability of each womanto confront persecution added to a combination of factorsthat help in the success or the failure of the experience.

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A collection of factors aided in creating the incentive andempowerment that led to success, and enforced thepower of the ego in each of these disabled women. Themost effective of those factors are the parents, brothers,sisters, the husband, and the financial status, in additionto the constant care and follow up of organizations ofdisabled people and rehabilitation institutions.

The research shows that the primary promoter of thedrive towards empowerment is the deep feeling insideeach disabled person to live with dignity and indepen-dence. That constitutes the main driving force to crossover oppression towards self-achievement on both thepersonal and social levels. Even though this situation issimilar in the case of both male and female disabledpersons, the case of women with disability in generaland in the Arab world in particular poses a strongerchallenge of facing the double discrimination of disabil-ity and gender.


els especially when building a serious relationship with aman. She requires a man who understands her not onewho sees her as a body. She lives in an extreme strugglegiven that she knows very well how men view a disabledwoman.

Many of the female friends and colleagues I meet com-plain about and suffer from their failed relations withmen who befriend them in order to reach indecentmotives. Herein lies the difference between men andwomen and the way they view love. According to somemen, love implies fulfilling one’s innermost sexual desires.Besides, men take it for granted that disabled women arein need of satisfying their sexual desires and should feellucky to experience a sexual relation in spite of their dis-ability. Moreover, men presume that women are unableto detect their true intentions and ulterior motives.Women by nature are very sensitive and emotional;hence, they have to be extremely cautious when enteringa relationship. A woman has to constantly test her part-ner to determine how attached he is to her and howmuch he loves her. It is imperative to do so given that sex-ual exploitation is damaging. It might rob her of her self-confidence, mark her for life and make her hold a grudgeagainst the opposite sex.

Men and the Way they View Disabled WomenRarely does the idea of getting romantically involvedwith a disabled woman cross a man’s mind given that heis influenced by his society that disregards a disabledwoman and undermines her role as wife and mother.Much of the discrimination experienced by disabledwomen is based on an implicit notion that she is not thesame as other women and so cannot be expected toshare the same rights and aspirations. This does notimply that men do not fall in love with disabled women.Yet, men are influenced by society and its negative por-trayal of disabled women, hence men surrender andaccept these false stereotypes at face value. Accordingto parents, disabled women fail to meet the require-ments society places on women. They are often per-ceived as incapable of being “good wives and mothers.”Moreover, relatives and friends are convinced that dis-abled women are incompetent when it comes to equalpartnership, running a house and engaging in an inti-mate and sexual relationship. Here lies the importantrole the man plays in protecting his partner and defend-ing her. He should serve as her guardian and supporterin shielding her from all the prejudices widespread insociety. He has to be convinced of his choice of partnerand stand by her.

Mind you, the role the disabled woman has to play is assignificant and crucial given that she has to be honest,straightforward and self-confident while trying to explain

to her partner the details and realities surrounding herdisability without feeling embarrassed. She shouldn’t shyaway from explaining how she showers and gets dressed.Moreover, she should be open about her sexual desires,her feelings regarding her body and the manner in whichthey should make love. She should be honest about theproblems they might face while making love such asunexpected urination, inability to control or move one’sfeet and many of the other problems that might arise, yetdo not necessarily stand in the way of fulfilling one’s sex-ual desires.

Men should join forces with their disabled wives and sup-port them. In doing so they sustain and bolster their roleas mother and housewife where they equally share theirmarried life and its responsibilities. Subsequently, the wayshe is viewed by society improves, especially if she con-ceives, given that Eastern society still places a high valueon this.

Last but not least, there are men who are unaware, igno-rant and completely oblivious to the plight of disabledwomen. This category of men disregard disabled women,ignore them totally, feel sorry for them and pity them toan extent that they tend to limit their capabilities anderadicate them. Hence, these men are responsible for alot of the psychological violence disabled women sufferfrom. All this is due to men’s ignorance of the situation ofthe disabled and their total rejection of this group ofwomen given that they aspire to get involved with per-fect and beautiful women.

The Way “Ordinary” Women View Disabled Women Disabled women are stereotyped and discriminatedagainst by “ordinary” women who see themselves asmore beautiful, attractive and seductive. Some womenuse their good looks to try and overshadow disabledwomen, however, a smart disabled woman is aware ofthis and refuses to be affected by such a stance. She isarmed with ample self-confidence that will allow her todefy and oppose the way she is viewed by “ordinary”women. Hence, she pays attention to her outwardappearance and is an equal partner in building society byinvolving herself in all its aspects, be they political, eco-nomic, or social.

Disabled Women and Sexual LifeThe disabled woman in our society is still shy about dis-closing her hidden and innermost sexual desires giventhat her chances of marriage are minimal. This is due tothe way she is viewed by men and society. Hence, she isunable to lead a normal life like any “ordinary” women.This creates immense desperation and frustration. Theonly way she can avoid breaking down and sinking intodesperation is through the support she receives from

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I stand in front of the mirror

I talk to myself

I observe my figure

I become immersed in the mirror

And I fail to find a soul more beautiful than myself

As such, I live in contentment

I live with that wheelchair

I fail to differentiate between the wheelchair and my body

I remain in it with all responsibility

Making of my world a reality

What do I care if society sees me?

I am just a disabled woman

I hear them whispering it’s the wheelchair that is moving her

I shout back freely: it is I who am moving the wheelchair

Difficulties Faced by Disabled WomenThe disabled woman is faced with a lot of challenges insociety. Despite that, she remains strong given that shepays the price first for being a woman and second forbeing a disabled woman. All she is armed with in this difficult and problematic journey for survival is her self-confidence and self-contentment. The disabled woman’sfamily also plays an important role in building her per-sonality and improving her life conditions. They areresponsible for her positive and confident advancement

in society especially during her adolescence, a period thatis very critical and delicate. During this phase her person-ality starts developing, she starts fancying wearing make-up, mingling with friends, going on outings, and trying toattract boys. She might feel the difference between herand “ordinary girls” her age if her parents failed to pro-vide her with the support needed.

The disabled girl leads a very turbulent life during herteens given that she is plagued with very many worriesand concerns. These anxieties might develop into a hugebarrier if she fails to face up to her reality with its nega-tive and positive aspects. During this period she questionsherself endlessly. Will I have a male friend like all othergirls? Will I be a wife and mother one day? Will I beresponsible for a house and family one day? All thesequestions and uncertainties might not be answered lestshe tried to live her life following the example of “ordi-nary” girls despite the enormous suffering she mightendure and that are imposed by one’s reality and Easternsociety.

Disabled Women and Body ImageA disabled woman in our society is more like a heroin ina novel. She lives in a battlefield and struggles on all lev-

Roula El-HelouDisability Activist, Lebanon

Disabled Women and Body Image

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ConclusionDespite all the discrimination she encounters and in spiteof all the prejudices and inequalities she is faced with,the disabled woman relentlessly looks for her rights. Thediscrimination and violence she is subjected to by non-disabled/disabled men and women as well as by societyfalls short of depriving her of her dreams and aspirations.Hence, she becomes more like the Mona Lisa where noone knows the secret behind her inner beauty. Besides,she makes of her determination and defiance a righteoussword unconquerable by violence or by darkness.

The isolation and exclusion of disabled women evenextends to mainstream women and women’s move-ments, which deny us our rights and identity.

Isolation and confinement based on culture and tradi-tions, attitudes and prejudices often affect disabledwomen more than men. This isolation of disabledwomen leads to low self-esteem and negative feelings.Lack of appropriate support services and lack of ade-quate education result in low economic status, which, inturn, creates dependency on families or care givers.

the people around her. Moreover, disabled women haveto cope with the fact that they might never get marriedor conceive and have to want to continue living despitethat. Girls from a very young age start dreaming of get-ting married and becoming mothers. Most girls playwith dolls and pretend that they are their daughters.Given that motherhood is an innate feeling they pos-sess, the role of a mother is a part they long to play inreal life.

Discrimination between Disabled Women and Men Society discriminates flagrantly against disabled men andwomen. That is due to the reign of patriarchal valuesand standards in the Arab society and their dominanceover the feminine society. The effects of patriarchy areblatantly visible in the areas of work and marriage. It isimportant to note that men also discriminate between“ordinary” women and disabled women. Disabled men,in Eastern society, are more eager to begin a partnershipand marry disabled women given that they share thesame experiences. Besides, disabled men consider dis-abled women to be more perfect and stable when itcomes to sustaining a relationship.

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Translated by Myriam Sfeir


Because of women’s role in building a good nation, andbecause of our conviction that a disabled woman plays arole in constructing an integrated society, and since themagazine Asda’ al-Mu’aqeen (Echoes of The Disabled)had a special section on the disabled woman in its previ-ous issues, it has again raised the topic in a special col-umn entitled “They.” This column offers a great oppor-tunity to prove the disabled woman’s role as an importantpart of this society which sometimes tries to humiliateand discriminate against her, first because she is awoman, and second because she is disabled. Her dreamsare many, and more so her aims, since she still struggleshard to achieve her full rights, especially because she isstill searching for her identity in a society which exploitsand sees in her nothing but her body.

This is why Asda’ al-Mu’aqeen wanted to repeat what ithad pointed out in its previous issues, i.e. to confirm to allwho ignore the truth about the disabled woman that shehas more than ever proven to be a good mother, a suc-cessful employee and a first rate social activist, since withher intelligence she is able to disprove all that has been saidto censure and marginalize her. We will find her effective-ness in special basic nooks and crannies if we help and sup-port her to do away with all the obstacles in her way. In this

article we reveal what is disregarded in order to ascertainthe disabled woman’s will power, determination and mag-nanimity, in spite of all the violations she suffers, with thehope of being able to help her eliminate the obstacles in herway. A clear truth faces us after having spoken to threeexceptional blind women who have been able to talk to usabout their experience objectively and frankly, for they pos-sess a strength and persistence which are rare in a societythat judges a woman according to her appearance.

If one studies Mrs. Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili deeply, onefinds in her a blind woman who faced the whole of soci-ety in order to overcome her blindness. She studied in theBaabda School for the Blind and Deaf, continued herhigher education in the Lebanese University where sheread Sociology. She then taught English, social studies andscience in the Mabarrah School and is currently employedin the electricity company. She is married to Ismail al-Tufaili, who is not blind and works at the Ghandour fac-tory in the oil department. She got to know him at theschool in Baabda during the Lebanese civil war; they fell inlove and married. They have three boys: Ali, Muhammadand Hussein. She goes through her experience of mother-hood with pride, of marriage with love and refinement,and of work with energy and liveliness.

Roula El-Helou

An Open Discussion: Blind Women and How they Proved their Success in Marriage

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Matters do not stop here, for Mrs. Amal Saseen Hajjajwho has been partially sighted since birth, carries us intoa dream world she was able to achieve as a woman. Shestudied in the Baabda School for the Blind and Deaf andpursued her university education at the LebaneseUniversity in Tripoli, studying Law. After a wonderful loveaffair she married Rashad Hajjaj, who is not blind andwhom she met in Egypt. They have one son, Shadi. Sheis currently a telephone operator in a hospital and herhusband is a basket ball trainer who travels betweenEgypt and Lebanon. What distinguishes Amal is her ener-gy and disorderliness for she is afraid to be left behind bythe passage of time before she attains her aims as quick-ly as possible.

N.D. is a blind woman we interviewed who requestedanonymity. In spite of thisshe was as frank as couldbe. She studied for twoyears in a Lebanese universi-ty but had to discontinueher studies for economicreasons. She married a non-Lebanese who fell in lovewith her, but who changedafter their marriage. He isabout 11 years youngerthan her and she did nothave children because shemarried at an advanced age.She regrets having married aman endowed with eyesightbecause of the way he treat-

ed her after they got married.

N.D.’s experience is a very rich one, and she is adamantabout the violence a disabled woman is exposed to in amale society which subjects her to bitter conditions. Hersis a clear lesson to any blind woman who discovers thenegative results of a hasty decision she makes that mightturn out to be wrong. Yet she smiles in the face of life, inspite of her troubles.

Asda’ al-Mu’aqeen interviewed these women about theircondition as blind married women who confirmed theirrole in a society that usually tries to ignore them, andwhose courage endeavored to change this general atti-tude. This dialogue will introduce us into the specialworld of each of them.

Does the blind woman enjoy a normal emotionallife in your opinion?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: My experience showed methat the way we treat each other is what makes our emo-

tions grow. The blind woman empathizes strongly espe-cially if the other person is honest and treats her well. Iwant to say that when the blind woman feels that theman endowed with eyesight treats her objectively, notdifferentiating between her and any other woman,respects her capacities, knows her personality and bless-es her existence, she grows emotionally and can makethe proper decisions.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: The blind woman is just like anyother woman, expected to use some wisdom and carefulconsideration in choosing her mate in order to be sure ofhis feelings and love. This confidence is the result of sev-eral experiences and difficult situations which prove toher how honest he is, how attached to her and how farhe accepts her condition and is ready to maintain thatnoble relation which joins a man and a woman.

N.D.: I feel that blind women have very strong emotionsand desire stability like any other girl with eyesight. Wefind these emotions in the heart of a woman even if shewere not blind. I feel that woman is emotional, that thisis part of her being, this is why her emotions might over-come her reason.

Did you have unlucky love experiences before yourmarriage? What did you learn from them?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: I did have a beautiful loveaffair from which I learnt a lot. I was in love with a blindyoung man, and my experience with him taught me thatone must use her reason before her emotions, for I amagainst the marriage of two blind people, especiallybecause of the children, unless they are materially welloff. If they want to guarantee their independence theywill face many problems. I say that reason should comebefore emotion, and that love which comes from mutualdecent treatment after marriage can be more successful.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: Naturally I had such unlucky expe-riences, just like any other girl, and learnt a lot fromthem. They helped me to choose my life partner well soas not to make mistakes which would lead to our failure,such as disagreeing in thought and speech. Thank God Ichose my husband well. He respects a woman, considersher an ideal human being and endorses her role in hersociety which often mistreated and abused her.

N.D.: I have not had unlucky experiences because I hadnot been in love before. I used to feel that the feelings ofyoung men with eyesight might not be honest, orprompted by pity. This is why I always refused those witheyesight who asked for my hand. There were also blindmen who asked for me in marriage, but I refused thembecause of my parents who believed it would be difficult

Man is a protection to woman if he is competent.

to start a home with a blind man. Although I am marriednow and have many problems, I am afraid my husbandwill love me less because he can see, is younger than meand good looking. I am afraid our marriage will come toan end. Fate has unified us and I am afraid fate will partus because of society, although I am sure of his convic-tion. But he has become less convinced of his choice of ablind woman as a wife. This is apparent in his neglect andinattentiveness.

How can a man with eyesight see the girl of hisdreams in a blind woman?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: I, personally, was veryaudacious. From the first time I met him my husbandattracted my attention. When we got to know eachother we discussed things and this affected my hus-band, Ismail. My way of talking drew him closer to meand my personality made him love me. Here we startedexpressing our mutual feelings. A man who is awaresearches for what makes a woman, not for her physicalappearance, for a person’s core is very important andwillpower plays an important role. When a man witheyesight thinks like this, he treats a blind woman theway he would treat any other person. It is society that isdisabled.

Amal Saseen: A man with eyesight cannot see the girlof his dreams in a blind woman unless she proves to himthat she is as capable as any other girl, and that she isworthy of him in her understanding of him, her moralsand social work, this is besides her physical appearance,her background and her upbringing.

N.D.: This depends on the man’s personality. I havedoubts about a man with eyesight. I married my husbandbecause I wanted to be a mother and have a child. Now Iam 45 years old and he is almost 11 years younger thanme. I do not want to cheat my reason and my heart. TodayI am very frank and afraid to lose my husband, especiallysince we have been married for a year and a half and I stillhave not given birth. A child is a strong bond between awoman and a man, although my husband might leave meone day for a younger woman with eyesight.

On what did you base yourself when you decidedto marry?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: In the beginning I felt it wasdifficult to take the decision to marry, and was afraid offacing such a resolution, especially since the economic sit-uation plays an important role. When we decided to marryI forgot the economic need, and my husband’s supportgave me the strength to face the situation. If a man iscapable he protects a woman. His strong personality

makes her overcome the difficulties. As an Oriental girl Idiscussed this marriage with my parents and after theywere sure of his honesty they helped me make up mymind. I never felt him to be afraid of facing things, and mylove of confronting difficulties, together with other fac-tors, encouraged me to go through with this marriage.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: The trust between us was enoughto make us take this decision. I found in Rashad anunderstanding husband, willing to participate in facingthe difficulties of life, capable of fighting and challengingin order for us to marry. Our mutual love was enough totake this important decision.

N.D.: All my life I had hoped to have a home and wear awhite wedding dress because I wanted to bring up anideal family. My hope is to have children who will be out-standing in society. But unfortunately I did not wear thatwhite dress, due to problemsand a hasty marriage.

What were the problemsyou faced? And how didyou overcome them?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili:The first problem was Ismail’sparents. They did not acceptthe idea and refused to ask myparents for my hand for fearthat their son’s marriage wouldfail and that he would face dif-ficulties. The second problemwas that we did not have anindependent home.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: I faced a big problem with my par-ents. They strongly opposed my marrying Rashadbecause he is Egyptian and of a different religion. Theybelieved that the difference in religion and traditionswould kill our marriage. What made them oppose mymarriage was their fear for my future with him and theirnot knowing the society in which I would be living. But Iinsisted on my wish and managed to convince them thatmy choice was the right one. My husband’s correctbehavior also helped and proved to them that he wasworthy of their confidence. This made them agree to ourmarriage, especially since his parents did not disagree atall to their son’s wife being blind, and left him to choosefreely, fully confident in him. They love me dearly and ourrelationship is excellent. We are one family now, for bet-ter or worse.

N.D.: Frankly, I still face problems, especially because hisjob is not stable. He works in a tile factory, the salary is

I am sorry I did not marry a blind man who understands my condition.

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very poor, and we live with my parents because of ourdifficult economic situation. We are financially incapableof having a home of our own and I do not feel that weare independent.

Was motherhood a challenge to every refusal youmet with?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: For me motherhood initself was a challenge because I could not bear childrenfor eight years. We underwent treatment, which hasnothing to do with my blindness. Concerning my notbecoming pregnant did not cause either his parents ormine to bother us. After eight years of treatment wewere blessed with our first son Ali. And after him cameMuhammad and Hussein. All of which was thanks toGod. I did well as a mother, my children do not feel theirmother to be different. They are successful in school, and

as loving parents we bothhelp in their education.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: Ofcourse after my mother-hood those around usbecame more convinced ofour capacity to face withcourage and defiance everyproblem we encounter. Webear the responsibility of ourhome and our three-year-old son Shadi. I take perfectcare of him and do whatany mother with eyesightdoes, for I never have himwant for anything a baby

needs. My affection, love and care for his special needsare evidence of my being strong and persevering, and Ishall never let him be in need of anything.

Note: N.D. did not become a mother, but her faith in Godis strong.

How does your independence as a blind womanshow in your housekeeping?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: When I was still single mymother trained me in housekeeping, then the BaabdaSchool for the Blind taught me independence. So now Ihave no difficulties looking after my home. Parents also playa major role in this, not only regarding housekeeping butalso all other paths of life. I tidy my house and carry out allmy duties, including cooking and shopping on my own.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: I am just like any other marriedwoman who is a mother and works. My duties are many,

but I can accomplish them all because I divide my time: inthe morning I prepare my son for kindergarten, tidy thehouse and prepare the meals. My husband assists me inmany things and is very helpful, he never moves some-thing from its place without telling me so that I will nothave to bother looking for it. Besides that, I have appli-ances that facilitate my housework.

N.D.: I am a first class housewife and completely inde-pendent in my housekeeping, just like any other woman.I carry out my duties perfectly well.

How do you visualize the family’s future?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: I am sure of myself andhave great dreams, I feel that my family life is successful,and hope that my children will thrive in their studies,faith and thoughts. I am optimistic and follow my chil-dren’s education closely and relentlessly. As regards myrelation to my husband it is excellent and nothing willspoil it.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: I am very optimistic, and, God will-ing, the future will be ours because our married life is sta-ble and built on mutual understanding, support and love.I also have great hopes for my son Shadi since he is intel-ligent and is used to helping me in spite of his young age.

N.D.: Now I am sorry I married a man who seesbecause I started feeling that he makes a distinctionbetween me and other women, especially when we goout together. When we first got married my husbandgave me dreams that disappeared very quickly, for histreatment changed after we got married. He becameindifferent in society, we only went out once togetherafter we got married, he does not like to go out withme, and I feel that the only reason he is ashamed of meis my blindness. He does not want me to mix with hisfriends’ wives and keeps me away from them becauseI am blind. This is the truth and I am sorry I did notmarry a blind man who understands my conditionbecause it is his as well.

What would you say to blind girls whose loveaffairs failed?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: I think that a girl fails ifshe falls in love with a man who considers her with pityor idealistically. If a man is aware and mature the loveaffair is bound to succeed.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: I wish that they choose wellafter carefully studying their companions’ personalityand their readiness to accept the girls’ condition, tosupport and help their wives face the difficulties of

I am happy because I find comfort in an understanding husband.

life’s problems. I wish all this before they bind them-selves to anyone.

N.D.: I advise every blind girl never to marry a man witheyesight because one of these days he will differentiatebetween her and other women, although some mar-riages between blind girls and men with eyesight aresuccessful. A woman should bind herself to a suitableman, be sure of his feelings, and not take a hasty deci-sion. This is what happened to me and I still suffergreatly from my husband’s neglect.

Where do you place yourself today as mother,housewife and working woman?

Zeinab Mu’awiya al-Tufaili: I coordinate between myduties towards my husband, children, home and work.I hate routine and boredom, for emptiness harms a per-son and makes him lazier. This is why I enjoy being tiredwhen I obtain a result.

Amal Saseen Hajjaj: Since I work outside my home,and am responsible for my house, husband and edu-cating my child, besides my social life, life’s pressuresand the economic pressures, I feel tired, just like therest of working wives and mothers. I do not have muchtime for rest, but I am happy because I find rest with ahusband who is understanding and sympathetic.

Note: N.D.’s unstable family life has not permitted herto live as a housewife, and her closed society also pre-vented her from having contact with the outside world,besides the fact that she was deprived of experiencingmotherhood.

This investigation showed experiences which differfrom each other, yet we find some similarity betweenZeinab and Amal’s good relationship with their hus-bands and society.

Zeinab’s long wait before having children was a greatchallenge to society’s expectation of motherhoodfrom every female. Although there is no relationbetween blindness and not having children quickly,which is God’s will, her bearing children was a victoryover all the tongues that tried to minimize her role asa blind woman, while others sought to negate hercapacity and marginalize her. On the other hand wefind that her husband Ismail’s decision to marry ablind woman showed a lot of defiance and resolve.He stood by the woman he loved without being influ-enced by a society which differentiates between peo-ple. He faced those obstacles with the strength of thelover who defends his position with an independentand sure mind.

Amal’s experience shows her and her husband Rashad’sdefiance of difference, whether of religion, country orbackground. They stuck together for better or worse,confronting all the doors that were closed to them dur-ing their long love story. All this goes to prove her to bean intelligent person in choosing such an honest hus-band who never let her down, in spite of her parents’refusing him. Through his respect and confidence inher and her family he proved the progressiveness of theOriental man who seeks the essence of a woman withlove and admiration.

Finally we come to N.D. who failed in her marriage.Her hasty decision in choosing a younger partner, hislimited income and their not having children might allhave been the reason for the change in his feelingstowards this poor woman. But whatever the cause,women in general, and theblind in particular should usetheir reason before theirheart in order to guarantee arespectable life with the per-son they marry. This woman’ssuffering is great, but, never-theless, she is strong in spiteof her problems. Her husbandcontinues to impede her psy-chologically since he refusesto let her out into society, heronly companions being thewalls of her home, while sheis longing to find in her part-ner a friend, brother, loverand real husband. Yet she stillhas to face her failed mar-riage, which has developed her awareness and madeher search for future solutions that might lessen herburden.

Whatever the facts, N.D.’s experience will not make uslook at the empty half of the glass, but will make ustake an obstinate stand in not disparaging the role ofthe blind woman who succeeded, as was clear inZeinab and Amal’s stories.

“Marriage between a blind woman and a man witheyesight is not easy” is what people say who are sur-prised to see this happen in reality. But our answer isthat it is very easy for a man who is aware, cultured andcivilized to see in a woman the saintliness of the moth-er, the luminosity of the wife, the honesty of the sisterand the love of the lover. When this takes place theimpossible becomes easy, and the darkness of blind-ness triumphs over all the ignorance and rejection ablind woman might face.

“Marriage between a blindwoman and a man with eyesight is not easy”

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When I tried to write about the state of affairs of the dis-abled woman in the United Arab Emirates, I enquiredfrom myself about the subject before writing a singleword, as I am a woman from the area suffering a physi-cal disability since my childhood. Therefore, I am a personwho most lives, lives with and feels with the disabledwoman in the United Arab Emirates.

I tried to ask myself whether I had ever felt a differencebetween myself and others since I am disabled in allareas: education, work, family life and finally emotionallife. Did being a disabled woman in the United ArabEmirates make me different from any disabled Arabwoman? Is there a common denominator between us inspite of the geographical differences between the placesin which we live?

I found myself going several years back and retracingmy past life, comparing it with what is happening now,that is, between the past and the present, and withwhat the women’s state of affairs was in the UnitedArab Emirates. The woman used to play a positive rolein the life of her family! She used to rock the cradlewith her left hand and eliminate the difficulties of lifewith her right hand! She was the mother who sup-

ported the man, the wife who struggled with him, andeven played his role in directing the family affairs dur-ing his absence on a trip which would last severalmonths a year. In spite of her being deprived of educa-tion she was strong, courageous, adapting to theevents in the Gulf and living with them. And wheneducation started spreading in the United ArabEmirates, women started participating in much of it,learning both in the local schools and abroad.

Thus she has been appointed to many posts for decades,specialized in all the difficult scientific fields, and womenin the United Arab Emirates managed to become minis-ters, ambassadors, members of parliament and of thestate consultative councils. Naturally, she had to strugglefor her cause, break the taboos and overcome all the dif-ficulties. Yet, in the end, she arrived.

Such is the life of a normal woman from the Gulf area, awoman who is not disabled. But what about the disabledwoman? Was she able to pass through the phases of lifelike her sister who is not disabled? Was she able to bepart of the educational system and obtain educationaland training credentials? Was she able to work andmarry? Was she able to integrate in society?

Munira bin HindiPresident of Bahrain Mobility International, Bahrain.

Disabled Women in the United ArabEmirates

Of course education in the United Arab Emirates wasnever restricted or limited to teaching disabled women.Ever since beginning their education the disabled, andespecially the physically disabled, were mixed with theothers. But no plans had been made to overcome the dif-ficulties faced by some of the disabled persons in a num-ber of schools, institutions and universities, and this led tothe decline of some of them, especially those who wereseverely disabled or who were not supported by theirfamilies to help them integrate. Blind women, however,were not integrated in schools when education began, somost of them are restricted to reading the Qur’an athome.

Speaking about the other forms of disability, their share ofeducation is close to nil. Yet, in spite of these difficulties,educating disabled women started more than 20 years agoand has overcome all the obstacles that were in the way.The ministries of education have begun to take a newcourse by establishing administrations specialized in edu-cating those with special needs, caring to completely inte-grate the disabled persons, whether male or female,regardless of the kind of disability they are suffering from,taking into consideration their needs and capacities. Thusthe disabled woman started assuming her positive role ineducation and eliminating the obstacles she faces. In gen-eral, both family and society supported her faith and insis-tence on her right to live like others.

As a result of this progress, and depending on her edu-cational and training diplomas, she started joining theworkforce according to her specialization, just like hernon-handicapped sister, with the difference that the dis-abled woman insists on obtaining the facilities that helpand support her in her work. She has succeeded in her

education in spite of the difficulties, and has obtainedmany positions in all domains. The disabled woman in theUnited Arab Emirates has participated in social and otherfields of work, not hindered by her disability, but facingmany difficulties.

Regarding society in general, society in the Gulf area usu-ally has different attitudes towards the disabled persons:some really believe in them and offer them all the supportthey need; others still believe that the disabled person isconstantly in need and requires continuous guardianship.Although this attitude still persists sometimes, it is start-ing to change, especially among the disabled womenthemselves.

Regarding the economic side of life, her economic stan-dard has started to improve as a result of her havingjoined the workforce and her depending wholly on herown income. However, concerning those women whoare not working and are from middle class families, thegovernments of the United Arab Emirates guaranteethem a symbolic income sufficient for their needs,besides all the appliances and utensils they need.

The only thing that the disabled woman still suffers fromis her right to marry, with no sign of change in thisrespect. Families and society still regard the disabledwoman as an inferior who cannot tackle family life andthus object to her marrying. And if she does marry itwould be in spite of the families! Notwithstanding thisattitude, we do sometimes see a disabled woman marry-ing either a disabled or a non-disabled man.

This, in a nutshell, is the state of affairs of the disabledwoman in the United Arab Emirates.

• The rights and dignity of all people with or without disability.

• The rights to freedom and justice to all people with or without disability.

• The confirmation and support that persons with disabilities have the same rights as all other people.

The protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities is about:

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I start by asking a question I have always been asking,which is how to talk about a feeling that is deeperand stronger than any words can express, the feelingof being disabled and that is often aggravated bysociety which is incapable of accepting a disabled per-son and have him/her lead a normal life like anyoneelse?

I was born with deficient sight and spent seven yearsin hospitals and with doctors to no avail. Finally I wasconvinced that I had to live my life and accept thatthis was my fate. When I reached schooling age Ifound a school for non-disabled children but couldnot adjust to their methods of teaching, so the doc-tor advised me to study in a school for the blind. Butsince I was very young I was not fully aware of all thatwas going on around me. I entered a boarding schooland felt very scared because I had left my family andwas with people I did not know. Everything lookedstrange to me: the people, the methods of readingand writing… Thus my life followed a path that dif-fered from what I had imagined and I found it diffi-cult to adapt. However, in the end I accepted realityand submitted to my fate, otherwise I would havelived with a constant interior conflict.

I went through the elementary, intermediate and highschool classes in this school then went on to universi-ty where I studied law. In the university I faced anoth-er world and other difficulties because I had to searchconstantly for someone to read and write for me. Thiswas a great burden on me and limited my possibili-ties. But in spite of these obstacles I managed to suc-ceed in obtaining my degree from law school inInternational Law. As the poet says: “It is not hopebut struggle that makes us attain our aims.”

My disability affected my studies. I had wished tostudy science, but that is impossible for a blind per-son. My disability also affected my social life since it isdifficult to find people who appreciate you as a per-son caring for nothing but your talents and capacity.It also affected my emotional life, for I find that a dis-abled girl or woman is marginalized in Arab societies,and is not given the position she deserves since soci-ety refuses to give her the chance to prove that shecan bear responsibility as well as anyone else. I couldnot accept my life and was not convinced by it, andthis made me think of going in for social work inorder to help the blind. Although I have not beenlong in this field it has been a turning point in my life,for being in touch with several issues has made mesee that disability is a double-edged weapon. I haveto know how to wield it in order to overcome myweakness without allowing it to overcome me.Disability can also be a source of strength by way ofchallenge and endurance. I also learnt that no onewill value the disabled person unless he values himselfby having confidence in his capacities, and that hehas to fight for his rights for they will never be offeredto him on a plate of gold. In the midst of all thesechallenges there remains the beacon of will powerand hope that brightens our life and creates in it thespirit of continuity and giving in order to attain whatwe strive for. As the saying goes: “How narrow lifewould have been had there not been hope.” Thisthought enables me to end this short summary of mylife, for it is difficult to recount my whole life experi-ence in one article. Therefore I beg the reader to readbetween the lines more than what has been writtenin this paper.

Fawziyya Ben Taleb

Testimony - Morocco

Maha Barghouti is a name Jordanians will rememberfor the longest time. She was the first and only ath-lete to grant Jordan its first ever gold medal in anOlympic event in December 2000.

Barghouti's achievement during the SydneyParalympics in the Wheelchair table tennis competi-tion lifted Jordan's flag waving in Sydney's skies. "Ialways dreamt of being the one who will lift Jordan'sname high in an Olympic event, and thank God mydream came true," Barghouti said.

The 40-year-old champ was also named the ArabAthlete of the Year in 2001 and received the SharjahExcellence Award for the Handicapped. Barghoutipaved her way to the Sydney gold medal by beatingplayers representing Britain, Italy and the USA. In thefinal she defeated a French woman 21-14, 25-23 tosecure the gold medal.

Her nationalism and devotion to her country did notgo unrecognized. His Majesty King Abdullahbestowed the Al Hussein Medal of the First Order onBarghouti shortly after returning to Jordan with thegold medal.

The Jordanian champ received similar Royal recogni-tion from HRH Prince Ra'ed Bin Zeid, who heads theJordan Sports Federation for the Handicapped (JSFH).

In recalling her own experience in the athletic life,Barghouti said sports for those with special needs isnot as easy as many think. "There are special equip-ment and certain set-ups that we need to abide bywhen we are practising and competing in addition tothe need for proper transportation to and from prac-tice," she explained.

Another obstacle athletes with special needs shouldovercome is the "shame culture," and wrongfulbeliefs by many families of their handicapped chil-

dren. "Most families feel ashamed that they havehandicapped individuals. Others do not care to gettheir children involved in any activities or invest theirmoney in building their athletic capabilities," she said.

That is why she said she was insisting on winning agold medal in the Sydney Olympics. "My win was amessage for people to get to know the handicappedsports and to encourage other families not to dis-criminate against their handicapped children andinstead to support their youngsters to becomeinvolved in sports," she said.

Barghouti, who was dubbed by most local media asthe Athlete of the Year in 2000, said she accom-plished several international achievements since shebegan playing table tennis and athletics in 1986.

She clinched silver medal in the table tennis competitionduring the Special Olympics held in Holland in 1992.

But her greatest achievement was during the 1995Berlin Special Olympics when she broke the worldrecord in the 200 meter competition by scoring 32.26seconds, which was .08 less than the old record. "Iworked very hard for the 2000 Olympics and I wasdetermined to win the gold medal and I did. "Thisproved that working hard will give good results forpeople who believe in themselves and what they areworking for," Barghouti said.

In 2002, Jordanians voted Barghouti as Jordan's topsportsperson of the year.

During the award ceremony Barghouti said in anemotional speech: "I stand here tonight, though noton my feet, but by sheer determination, which hasbeen the story of my life... The fight to spread aware-ness about special needs sports finally paid off...People are finally looking beyond our disability andmeriting us on our athletic accomplishments."

Rana Husseini

A Dream Come True

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I was born with a disease which appears gradually in theretina, therefore my eyesight grew weaker and weaker. Icould not run and play like other children, and could notread except under very strong light. This is why my fatherphotocopied books for me with large letters, and my moth-er kept helping me to read my lessons. My father alsoaccompanied me on a long trip to Spain, India, China,Europe and America hoping to cure me, but to no avail.Finally, in London, my father was told the bitter truth thathis daughter would lose her sight sooner or later, and thatit was only a matter of time.

When I reached 14 I lost my eyesight completely. I knew thetruth about my illness and tried to prepare myself. I accept-ed God’s will and decided not to live regretting my lost eye-sight but to profit from the problem and turn it to myadvantage… I had gone through the elementary and mid-dle school at one school, and the kindergarten in Jeddah,where I had adapted to and got used to the place, the peo-ple and everything else. But the real change came after thatwhen I had to go on to the secondary classes and was notaccepted in the secondary schools I had applied to. The var-ious reasons given for refusing me put my mother and mein a difficult and painful situation, until God sent me ateacher who accepted me in her school. I started to doublemy efforts in studying, listening to what was being read tome.

When I sat for the first exam I got high grades which madethem accept to enroll me as a regular student in the school.After that I enrolled in the literary section and was later cho-sen as a model student first in the school and later in thewhole western district. When I received 89% in the GeneralSecondary Certificate people around me thought that Iwould stop at that. But I refused and insisted on going onto university. Naturally I knew that my condition would notpermit me to choose medicine or engineering, so I wantedto specialize in a branch based on discussion, dialogue andargument, and thus chose law. After graduating from uni-versity I wanted to prove myself by acquiring a superiordegree and went in for post graduate studies and obtaineda Doctorate in Law. My studies were in different countries,so I would go from one country to another and bear all the

difficulties I had to face in order to realize my aim. In study-ing I would depend on listening to what others would readto me, and this was a source of many difficulties, for it wasnot easy to find someone to read to me and with whom Icould relax. Yet I put up with all those difficulties in order toachieve my aim and not be a passive individual and a use-less member of society. Then, too, there was the difficultyof staying in the libraries for postgraduate students that for-bid reading aloud in their rooms. But in spite of all these dif-ficulties I decided to defend my MA and then my PhD the-sis extemporaneously in front of a great number of people,with each defense lasting several hours.

I personally believe that if a person desires to attain a dis-tinguished scientific and practical level he/she needs a lot ofpatience and defiance and should always try to make lightof the thorns that come his/her way so as not to waver infront of the obstacles he/she faces, no matter how manythey be. For will power, determination and belief in destinycan produce miracles. This does not mean that the way waseasy and was not wrought with pain and sorrow, but Ialways tried to ignore them so that they would not stop mefrom achieving success.

After I had finished my studies I decided to work. This wasa new turning point requiring a new defiance because theexperience of work differed from my experience during myyears of study. Work is a direct contact with others to proveone’s self. This I faced still remembering the doctors’ failureto treat my case, and the sorrow that overcame my family.Yet God quickly inspired me with a vision and determina-tion, and with the insistence on realizing something thatwould console me in my future and be a modest price paidfor my father’s and mother’s tears.

In aiming to excel in my studies I had decided to obtain myDoctorate in Law from the Faculty of Law at CairoUniversity. And having succeeded on this I realized what Ihad longed for. Thus ended the period I had regarded asdifficult and impossible and a period started which wasmore difficult because it meant going out into society andproving myself outside the realm of studies, and offeringwhat I had learnt so that other students might profit by it.

Wahi Farouq Louqman

A Personal Experience My search started by looking for an academic job. In1998 I applied for a teaching post in King ‘Abdel ‘AzizUniversity, a firmly-established university many dream ofjoining. After presenting my degrees and being inter-viewed by the Dean of Women Students in those days,Dr. Haifa Jamal al-Layl, I was accepted as an unofficial lec-turer, to be tested in case I failed. I was faced with a newchallenge which I accepted.

I remember the first day at university, the students’ sur-prise at seeing me standing blind before them, I remem-ber the whispers from here and there, the commentsthat expressed admiration and astonishment. Iremained silent until they had all settled down, andthen started by saying that when God loves one of Hiscreatures He tests his/her faith by depriving him/her ofone of his/her gifts but makes up for it by presentinghim/her with another gift. So although I do not see, Ican feel every movement around me and know whenceit comes. I also hope for mutual respect between us,and now let us start our lesson…

Little by little I gained the students’ respect and apprecia-tion, and this drew the attention of the administrationwhich had been observing everything from a distance.This, although I had greatly feared the reaction of the stu-dents to a professor who would be giving them a lecturewithout seeing them. Students at this age differ in charac-ter and qualities, as well as in their degree of awarenessand culture. Therefore, some might behave in a mannerthat does not become a university student, or that mightharm me or, at least, hurt me. All these things occurred tome while knowing that in the university there are hun-dreds, even thousands of students from different back-grounds and belonging to various social classes. But at thesame time I had an inner feeling that all these fears woulddisappear and the students would accept the situationwith respect and approval.

In fact, this is what happened. So far I have taught morethan 3000 students who have all shown me nothing butlove, respect and pride, and many of them feel proud tohave me as their teacher and consider me an example tobe followed. In reality, this gives me an invaluable andpriceless happiness. Some students come from other facul-ties to attend my lectures although they have nothing todo with their specialties, and they are all well mannered. Infact, I am very often ashamed by the excellent way inwhich the students treat me. The days passed quicklybefore I became a member of the faculty in King ‘Abdel‘Aziz University, enjoying all a professor’s rights and bene-fits and having all her responsibilities. This had been a faraim, and I had achieved it.

Through ‘Abdel ‘Aziz University I was given the chance toprove myself. The University’s support did not stop at that,for I gained the full support and confidence of the Dean ofWomen Students who was appointed after the term of theprevious dean who had appointed me came to an end. Sheappointed me Legal Advisor to the Women’s Sector, not dri-ven by pity or compassion but by a confidence gained withtime.

Because I believe that a university professor’s role is not lim-ited to the university but goes beyond it to the society towhich he/she belongs, I was invited by various parties togive lectures relating to legal problems concerning women.In these lectures I tried to simplify the material so that thewomen could understand it regardless of their standard ofeducation. Concerning my academic future I started prepar-ing research papers that would help me become anAssociate Professor. I have already completed a few thathave to do with the legal aspects of electronic commercedue to its increasing importance in modern times, andwhich I cannot detail now. And I still hope to open an office,offering legal advice to business women, and to establish ahigh-technology institute for blind girls that would trainthem from childhood to face their plight and to gain selfconfidence and participate in building their society.

In fact, the Saudi Kingdom has shown concern for educat-ing those with special needs and has established institutionsand schools to teach and train them, whether they be blindor deaf. It has also cared, and still does, to develop the insti-tutions specialized in the mentally disabled. Some of theteaching staff in these institutions are blind teachers whohad graduated from them, and some of them had contin-ued their university education and then come back to teachin the institute in which they had been pupils. At the uni-versity level the universities accept blind students to pursuetheir studies in several colleges, though not in all thebranches. I hope that one day all the colleges will open alltheir branches to the blind.

Finally I would like to add that it is deep suffering that givesbirth to great dreams, and that it is these dreams that giverise to great hopes. Through the years these dreams andhopes might remain fantasies that are difficult to achieve,and might become illusions that cannot be realized andwould lead to frustration and defeat. But those who cantransform the dream into reality we are proud of, andwhen we can convert the squandered powers within our-selves into a great ability of giving which will recuperatethe riches of the past and encompass the facts of the pre-sent, the future will shine in front of us in order to build ourpresent and our children’s future under the auspices ofcountry and bounty.

Assistant Professor in the School of Economics and Administration Advisor to the Dean of Women Students at King ‘Abdel ‘Aziz University in Saudi Arabia.

File File


Azza Muhammad Ali* was born in Cairo in 1950. Disabledfrom birth because of delivery complications, Azza suf-fered from brain paralysis and endured poor healththroughout her life. She died on December 20th, 2004.

Azza was her parents’ only child. They separated when shewas two and her guardianship was entrusted to her father.She lived with him until he sent her to boarding school inEngland where she stayed for nine years. Throughout thatperiod she did not see her mother, not even once.However, she used to see her father once a year. Eventhough she loved him dearly, she still missed her motherwhom she could no longer remember given that she had-n’t seen her since she was two. Whenever she asked herfather why they divorced he would answer that he wouldtell her everything when she was older. In England she feltlonely, but this helped her develop an independent per-sonality. She felt happy whenever her father visited hereven though his visits lasted a week. After some timeabroad she returned to Egypt to live with her father whotraveled a lot since he was a consul general.

Azza always asserted that her father treated her very welland took her feelings into consideration. While growingup she often wondered why her father never remarried,and when she asked him, his answer was that he wasn’tsure whether she would be upset if he did. Azza explainedto him that it wouldn’t bother her at all and so after herfather got her blessings he remarried.

Although Azza’s father didn’t change towards her after heremarried – he loved her just the same – her relationshipwith her stepmother was not an amicable one. Despite thefact that she was unkind to Azza, they both tried to accepteach other and get used to living together. Azza lived withher father and his wife for around five years, during whichtime her stepmother gave birth to two boys, Omar andAhmad. She confessed that her relation with her brotherswasn’t a close one.

Azza recounted that after her first stepbrother was born,her stepmother started encouraging her to contact hermother and visit her. Azza’s mother had remarried becausethe traditions at the time did not encourage a woman toremain unwed. The first time she met her mother was in1968, and Azza started visiting her once a week thereafter.Azza admitted that on her first visit to her mother she did

not feel that they were related. She affirmed: ”The bloodthat ran in her veins was not the same as mine.” She felta strong estrangement. Azza’s mother, on the other hand,admitted that she was very happy to finally meet herdaughter after so many years. Yet, she admitted that shedid not dare touch her for fear of her leaving and notreturning. With time and after repeated visits to her moth-er, Azza started loving her more and more and theybecame friends. At first, her stepfather did not accept herand was very nervous around her.

Azza’s parents were very supportive when it came to edu-cation. She was enrolled in a normal school and both herparents used to help her with her homework. She said thatit was thanks to her mother that she learnt Arabic. Azzarecounted that while she was bedridden as a result of anoperation, her mother brought in a teacher to help herwith her Arabic. Moreover, her parents provided her witha domestic worker who used to accompany her to schooland remain by her side in case she needed anything.

Azza recounted that her school years in England werecompletely different to the ones she spent in Egypt. InEgypt she felt completely isolated. Even though her teach-ers at school were very understanding, treated her well,and gave her the extra time she needed, she still felt dif-ferent and isolated. At first she did not mix with her class-mates and avoided going to the playground. However,thanks to her science teacher, who encouraged her to takepart in one of the school trips, she started making friendsand participating in activities. Azza’s university years werevery pleasant. The atmosphere was different and she hadan excellent relationship with her colleagues; she never feltdiscriminated against and made many friends. Azzaobtained her first university degree at the age of 26, threeyears older than the normal age due to her poor health.

At the age of 17 and after Azza started having healthproblems, she moved in with her mother. She felt it washer duty to look after her daughter following a brainoperation that left her half paralyzed. The brain surgerywas meant to improve her ability to use her hands butinstead of healing them she suffered from hemiplegia.The doctors had not foreseen that the operation wouldhave such results, and she started natural cures in orderto regain her capacity to walk, but her hands neverregained their mobility.


Her stepfather did not complain about her moving in withthem. He accepted the idea because he had no childrenand considered Azza his daughter. She continued visitingher father after that, spending a day with him every week.He tried very hard to foster a stronger relationshipbetween her and his other children but failed. Azzabelieved this was her stepmother’s fault although she saidher brothers loved her in their own way.

Azza worked in several institutions for the disabled beforeshe decided to go for a doctorate degree. When she start-ed working she had many ideas she wanted to put intopractice about how to develop and modernize the organi-zations that deal with the disabled. She was very excitedabout making a difference and bringing about change butwas extremely disappointed because no one was interest-ed in reform. With time Azza got used to the situation.Before she passed away she was teaching English to agroup of children with brain paralysis.

An important event in Azza’s life was her falling in lovewith one of her classmates at university. She was 21 at thetime and he was her first love. He was gentle and kind toAzza and their relationship was platonic despite the factthat it lasted for five years. Even though they talked aboutmarriage, the relationship ended because he was Christianand wanted to travel to Canada. Azza being Muslimcouldn’t marry him nor could she leave her mother alone.In Azza’s words: “Had he been Muslim I would have mar-ried him and traveled with him.” After they broke up andhe traveled Azza was very miserable. They stayed in touchfor a couple of years, yet, given that they had no futuretogether her first love decided to get married. He invitedher to his wedding and she attended. It was a difficultexperience for Azza. She knew he was bound to get mar-ried and she considered it to be his full right but going tothe church and seeing him marry another woman was verypainful.

After a while she became close to a colleague at work. Hewas disabled because of a brain injury and had a paralyzedhand and leg. He suffered from denial given that he triedto reject his disability and refused to accept his situation.Azza tried to help him and their friendship developed. Ata certain point he asked for her hand in marriage and sheaccepted on condition that they live with one of their par-ents given that they both needed help. He refused becausehe wanted them to be independent. The relationship did-n’t work out and they stopped dating.

At the age of 38, Azza got engaged to a classmate at uni-versity. She decided to take the plunge not out of love butbecause she felt she had to settle with a man. However,

after she got to know him better she realized that he wasunsuitable in a lot of respects. He was very lazy, he refusedto work and was expecting Azza to be the sole breadwin-ner. He lived off the money he received from his brothersand had no intention of changing. Azza ended the rela-tionship after four months and was convinced that mar-riage without love is bound to fail.

This incident was a big blow to Azza because she couldnot fulfill her desire to be romantically involved with aman. It made her give up the idea. Azza’s view was that itis difficult for an Eastern man to accept a disabled womaneven if she is intelligent and successful. All this changesnothing for him. She believed that no matter what a dis-abled woman achieves in life she will always be stigma-tized as a disabled person because what attracts men inthis era is not the intellect but a sound body.

After the failure of her engagement Azza knew that theonly thing that would help her regain her sanity was orga-nized study. So she decided to prepare for a Ph.D. Sheobtained a Doctorate in English Literature with Distinctionfrom the American University in Cairo and dedicated it to“All those who find life difficult.”

Azza regretted not getting married and was gravely disap-pointed for not having given the matter more thought.She knew that she would leave this earth unmarried andwith no children. She admitted that with age she becamemore demanding and refused to get married to anyone.She wanted a husband with the qualities she desired in alifelong partner. Azza managed to compensate for nothaving children of her own through her work with chil-dren. She loved her students and treated them like herown. Moreover, she taught them how to independent andencouraged them to think for themselves. Azza insistedthat the most important thing in life is for a person to beindependent and take his/her own decisions.

One of Azza’s most painful experiences was dealing withthe death of her father. She was greatly affected by hissudden death. Her mother was a great support and helpedher overcome the terrible shock. Two years later her step-father died, but his death did not have the same effect onher. Her mother was the only person able to fill the voidleft by her father.

Be Independent and Decide FreelyJahda Abou Khalil

END NOTES

* This article was written before Azza died on December20th, 2004.

File File

END NOTES


Report


- Talk (Dir. Matthew Parkhill, UK 2000, 10 mins) A young executive wakes to find himself in a world where dis-ability is the norm. As a non-disabled person he has bothphysical and social barriers to overcome. This film was madeby The Disability Rights Commission. - Street Play(Dir. Samar Kanafani with CHAMS and Beirut DC, Lebanon,2002, 11 mins) Street Play is a portrait of children creating space for them-selves in a city where there is none and inventing their ownplayground in the street. - L'homme de compagnie (The Playmate) (Dir. Philippe Thomas, France 1996, 7 mins) A romantic encounter in the street set to the rhythms ofsamba music. - Harvie Krumpet(Dir. Adam Elliot / AUS 2003 / 20mins) It is the biography of an ordinary man seemingly cursed withperpetual bad luck. - Elie Fayrouz (Dir. Cynthia Choucair, Lebanon / UAE, 2003, 13 mins) Elie Darwish has a voice similar to that of famous Lebanesesinger Fairuz. The film traces a story of this man with awoman's voice and his life, which is full of love, music, pain,solitude and waiting. - Blind Sensations (Dir. Raina Haig / UK 2001 / 9 mins) A three-part expressionist film exploring how blind peoplesecure and maintain a sense of personal space. - An Independent Life - Disability in Kosovo (Dir Andrea Ruffini, Italy 2004, 26 mins Disability in Kosovo today: difficulties, prejudices, inter-ethni-cal problems, social organization. Kosovo is still under thecontrol of UNMIK (United Nations Mission in Kosovo), but

many social problems are still there, racism is still alive, andmany social questions are still unsolved. The Italian N.G.O.C.i.Ca., with the activity of the "Centre for an independentlife", try to help people with disabilities in Peje - PEC to findan autonomy and an identity. - Handicap(Dir. Lewis-Martin Soucy, France 2004, 8 mins) A tale of seduction where it's not what you say, but how yousay it. - An Artist's Guide to Schizophrenia documentary(Dirs: David Emerson and Damian Clarke, UK 2002, 29 mins) Aidan Shingler explores the creative and spiritual dimensionsof schizophrenia. - Untitled part 3b: (as if) beauty never ends…. (Jayce Salloum, Lebanon/Canada/ 2002/ 11:22 mins) Part of a work in progress, which features, Abdel Majid, a1948 refugee in Lebanon, discusses issues of dispossessionthrough an eloquent poem told by the ruins of his house inPalestine where once he was allowed to visit after his first 30years of being displaced. Ambient sound and images includ-ing orchids blooming superimposed over raw footage frompost massacre filmings of the 1982 massacre at Sabra andShatila refugee camps. - Miracle(Dir. George Homsy/ IESAV USJ/ Lebanon / 2004/ 25 mins) An ironic, fly-on-the-wall experience of obtaining an Americanvisa when Lebanese had to go to Cyprus or Syria. The story istold through an eclectic mix of local characters that we can allidentify with, set in the sterile surroundings of a consulate.How far would you go to get a visa? - Happy DayAdelslam / Morocco / 2003, 17 minsThe Story of Said, 7, who through his work experiences allsorts of maltreatment. Happy Day sees Said change from vic-tim to victor.

Short Films and Documentaries Screened

On December 3rd, 2004 the Lebanese Physical HandicappedUnion, (LPHU), in collaboration with various national andforeign associations held its Second Human Rights andDisability Film Festival. The three-day event took place atEstral Theater in Hamra and coincided with the InternationalDay of Disabled Persons. The idea of the festival came aboutin 2003. The aim was to raise awareness about disabilityissues and to create a forum to highlight many of the issuesfacing disabled people.

For its first disability film festival, LPHU collaborated withAmnesty International, Save the Children Sweden and somelocal and private partners. The two-day festival held at SaintJoseph University was more or less an awareness raising ini-tiative. The idea was to get the public interested in disabilityissues and get the local media involved in disability andhuman rights. Most of the films screened in the first festivalwere foreign – from the United Kingdom and France.

The second film festival, like the previous one, served as aplatform to highlight some of the issues facing people withdisabilities. Moreover, it strived to emphasize the fact thatmany of the problems the disabled face are a result of theprejudice and discrimination they encounter rather than dis-ability itself. However, it differed from the first in that col-lege students produced most of the films and documen-taries. The British Embassy, Save the Children Sweden,Norwegian People’s Aid, as well as Amnesty Internationalsponsored the festival.

The opening ceremony witnessed the launch of the shortfilm Sawtuna, or Our Voice, prepared and produced byLPHU, the Inclusion Network* and volunteers. The secondand third day of the festival involved film screenings whereseven documentaries and films were shown. Moreover, fungames with Lebanese entertainer Tony Baroud were orga-nized to educate children about different disabilities. Thelast day hosted an award ceremony for best film on humanrights, best film on the rights of disabled persons, and bestfilm script.

Lara Shamji, a freelance media designer explained moreabout the making of the documentary Our Voice, andrecounted: “Given that I am a freelancer who works ondesigning visual communication projects for marginalizedgroups, I contacted LPHU and we worked together ondeveloping a project for the youth because they are themost marginalized in society. We designed the project incollaboration with the Inclusion Network. Shamji contin-ued: “As a freelancer, I try to work with and develop pro-jects for grassroots organizations because I think they arethe most well-informed when it comes to disability issues.None of the organizations under the umbrella of theInclusion Network are institutions, they are mostly parent-led or run by persons with disabilities and I believe they arethe most knowledgeable when talking about disability.”

Shamji explained that the project entailed training a targetgroup of 25 young participants, with and without addition-

al needs, on how to use digital media as a platform forvoice, empowerment, and capacity building within an inclu-sive environment. The end result was the documentary OurVoice. Shamji stated: “A video project was specifically tai-lored to encourage the participants to see that they havethe skills and the power to tell their own story and be heard.The participants were able to overcome misrepresentationof their cause by showing that they are active players intheir own lives and defy stereotypes of passivity in themedia.”

According to Shamji, the documentary was able to high-light how a group of young people was able to use visualmedia positively as a form of self-expression. She affirmed:“Given that visual media is the most effective communica-tion tool when it comes to the masses, we felt that it couldraise awareness and bring about a positive change. And wesucceeded because the participants were able, via themedia, to demonstrate their capacities and relay their

Myriam Sfeir

Human Rights and Disability Film Festival

thoughts to a wide audience. Bearing in mind that the sub-jects in the images are often misrepresented in the media,through the documentary Our Voice they were able toshow their side of the story.”

The Inclusion Network is an informal collective that aims atachieving inclusion within the family, the educational systemand society. The Network came about four years ago andgroups the various associations representing disabled persons,their parents and specialists with college professors. Amongthe members of the Inclusion Network are: Association ofParents of Deaf Children in Lebanon, Dyslexia Association,Lebanese Autism Society, Lebanese Down SyndromeAssociation, Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union, YouthAssociation of the Blind, as well as partners from the ECDCore Group, Lebanese American University, LebaneseUniversity, Palestinian Disability Forum, Save the Children-Sweden, Saint Joseph University, and UNRWA.


Report


At a workshop organized by The Youth Association of theBlind (YAB) and The Lebanese Physically HandicappedUnion (LPHU) from July 13-15, participants examinedstrategies for advocating an inclusive society for all inwhich all the citizens have all their rights, even their polit-ical ones.

Representatives from Yemen, Jordan and Egypt attendedthe workshop and worked with speakers from YAB, LPHU,The Lebanese Association for the Democracy of Election(LADE), and Al-Nahar Newspaper to discuss the Lebaneseexperience in the “Haqqi” or “My Right” campaign, aproject organized by YAB and LPHU to make the issues ofthe disabled visible through the election.

The “My Right” campaign worked with those calling forthe rights of the disabled and was very successful. Thecampaign used Lebanon’s 2005 parliamentary elections asa platform for advocacy. At the regional workshop ideaswere exchanged about the strategies used in “My Right”campaign and the participating countries were able todevelop plans to carry out similar projects.

Nizar Ibrahim, the manager of the project, explained thegoals and policies of “My Right”. He emphasized that YABand LPHU work for an inclusive society in which marginal-ization should decrease and in which all the citizens,including those with special needs, have their rights at alllevels. The recent elections constituted an important plat-form for bringing up the issue of the marginalization ofpeople with special needs and for promoting advocacy fortheir rights at the vocational, educational, and social lev-els.

The workshop participants discussed the importance ofpolitical work in raising the issues of people with specialneeds, which was at the heart of “My Right” campaign.People with special needs (and all the other social groups,

especially the marginalized ones) must be educatedregarding the election process. They must also examinethe willingness and seriousness of the election candidatesto work for giving the marginalized their rights and devel-oping policies that improve their lives.

Hussam Addanaf, coordinator of “My Right” for theBeirut region, explained that one of the campaign’s pur-poses was to promote such awareness and that to achievethis, “My Right” networked with other associations toaddress the disabled. The campaign brochure alsoexplained the importance of being politically involved andthe specific mechanisms that facilitate this involvement forpeople with special needs.

The regional “My Right” workshop discussed strategiesfor working with the media in two different sessionswhich were conducted by Iman Khaleefeh from LPHUand Ghassan Hajjar from Al-Nahar newspaper. Bothemphasized the strategies that should be followed byNGOs to involve the media. They stressed the importanceof NGOs assigning one person the responsibility of liais-ing with the media. Knowing whom to contact in eachmedia company, what information to provide about thesubject, and how to attract the attention of the personaddressed help build a successful relationship with themedia.

The regional workshop concluded that “My Right” suc-ceeded in attracting the attention of the media becausethe campaign formulated a clear message, appointed aperson whose responsibility it was to follow up with themedia, raised the issues of people with special needs in aconcrete way, and made their concerns a hot issue.

The workshop also discussed the importance of establish-ing a relationship with the political parties in doing advo-cacy work. Amer Makarem, the President of YAB, con-

Dr. Nizar Ibrahim

The Society Should also

be Politically Inclusive

good cooperation with other NGOs. The cooperation onmany fronts of “My Right” campaign with the LebaneseAssociation for the Democracy of Election (LADE) illus-trates this. Ammar Abbood, the person in charge of train-ing in LADE, stated that although cooperation existedbetween YAB and LPHU on one side and LADE on anoth-er side before the campaign, “My Right” campaign gavethis cooperation a strong push. This came about throughseveral steps:

a. Explaining to LADE the purpose and policy of “MyRight” campaign.b. Preparing training manuals for the observers and themedia that specify what to look for when observing and

reporting about the participa-tion of people with specialneeds in the elections. c. Providing LADE with mater-ial like the inclusive criteria,the existing law, and the sug-gested legal articles that dealwith the participation of thosewith special needs in the elec-tions.d. Asking LADE for coopera-tion in specific areas: includ-ing the criteria of “My Right”campaign in training theobservers and media; includ-ing the violations of the rightsof people with special needsduring the election in LADE’s

reports.The strategies used with LADE proved to be successfuland can be followed by other NGOs in advocacy cam-paigns. Ammar Abbood said the impact of cooperatingwith LADE became clear where the trained observersthemselves became aware of the rights of people withspecial needs to the extent that they included the con-cerns of this marginalized group regularly in their electionreports.

The participants in the regional workshop of “My Right”campaign were highly interactive in raising their concerns.Their questions enriched the discussions in the workshopand made the topics discussed highly beneficial. Theyexpressed their appreciation of what was discussed, high-lighting the importance of the model polling stationsorganized by “My Right” campaign, as discussed byHusain Mruwweh, the project’s Nabatiyeh coordinator.The outcome of the workshop was tentative plans for car-rying out similar projects in the participating countries.The Lebanese pilot experience laid the grounds for similarexperiences in the Middle East.

ducted this discussionmaintaining that workingwith the political partiesassists marginalized groupsto form a lobbying power. Waleed Fakherddeen, anactivist in LADE, in his dis-cussion of the Lebanesepolitical situation illustrat-ed the need of the margin-alized groups to cooperatewith the different political parties. The process of creatingpartners with political groups is a long one and needscommitment, patience and a clear vision. Commitmentcan start when the NGO assigns one person or a team theresponsibility of working with the political groups. Thisteam’s work should be based on a clear policy and shouldhave specific demands with which the politicians canempathize, and specific steps to work for these demands.

For example, one of the strategies used in “My Right”campaign was to show the difficulties that people withspecial needs face during the election through preparingmodel polling stations and drafting legal articles to solvethese problems. The campaign then advocated with dif-ferent groups to include these articles in the new electionlaw.

It is important too to maintain a distance between yourassociation and the different political groups to establishthe credibility of the association as an independent rightsmovement and not as a politically affiliated one.A clear policy and a clear vision constitute the basis for


Report Book Review

Volume XXII, No. 108, Winter 2005 71Volume XXI, No. 103, Fall 200370

This year, 2005, the Ministry of Social Affairs in theKingdom of Saudi Arabia issued Diagnosing and TreatingAutism, a book by Dr. Tal’at bin Hamza al-Wazna, theGeneral Director of Medical Services and Consultant forDiseases of the Brain and Nerve Rehabilitation. The 111-page book has a list of some of the international scientificsocieties for autism and a bibliography in Arabic andEnglish at the end. The book is divided into three parts.

First, there is an introductory statement by the Minister ofSocial Affairs in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim an-Namla, acquainting the reader with the content of thebook, followed by an introduction by the author sayingthat his book clarifies what the Arabic societies suffer dueto the lack of identifying autism and specifying the spe-cialists to treat it, giving a résumé of its contents:

The first chapter is an introduction in which the authormentions the reasons for the difficulty in diagnosingautism. He then gives an historical apercu of the meaningof autism, and enumerates the reasons for its spread.Following this he describes the disorders of the shadowof autism calling them “The comprehensive disorders ofgrowth.”

He describes Asperger’s syndrome, which is not detectedbefore four or six years of age, and which is sometimesaccompanied by the child being slightly mentally retard-ed. He mentions the differences between it and autism.He then goes on to describe Wright’s Syndrome and howto diagnose it, it being a nervous disease found only infemales, and describes the differences between it andautism, and describes the stages through which the girlafflicted with it passes. He then describes the infantileregression and the undetermined generalized develop-

mental disturbance which is called uncharacteristicautism and is the most diagnosed among the generaldevelopmental disorders. After this he goes on to showthe behavioral problems that draw the attention of theautistic’s parents and pertain to his behavior, such as ner-vousness, and social problems, such as the child’s solitarypersonality. The author also gives an historical apercu ofthe criteria for diagnosing autism which clearly shows thedifference between one disorder and another. The diag-nosis criteria developed by Lorna Wing and Judith Goldare those most commonly used and accepted worldwideat present. As a result of their studies and experimentsthese two researchers found there were three basic char-acteristics of autism that appear combined: inadequacy insocial interaction, inadequacy in language and speech,inadequacy in imagination. The author explains the crite-ria for diagnosing autism that are used at present.Perhaps the most influential criteria are those mentionedin the American Psychiatrists Association’s catalogue ofdiagnosis and statistics. The author points out the psy-chological measurement tools that help diagnose autismat various stages of life. He also describes the multiplespecializations standardization which is the ideal stan-dardization in which a number of specialists should par-ticipate and which saves a lot of effort, time and moneyand lessens the possibility of wrong diagnosis, the finaldiagnosis being that of the psychiatrist. After that theauthor describes the programs for health rehabilitationand which only aim at lessening the symptoms andbehaviors and making up for the absence of the neces-sary skills for everyday life. He describes the basis fortreating and changing the autistic’s behavior such as hisaggressiveness or his withdrawal, and epilepsy whichrequires medication, and over activity. The author alsomentions the medicines used in the treatment of autismand the advantage of each. After this he describes theeducational programs for the autistic which haveobtained great progress in training and developing theautistic child’s skills and changing his behavior.

In the second chapter entitled “The Centers for Autism”the author describes the building and architecturalrequirements for these centers. He describes the adminis-trative structure for those working in them, the adminis-trative jobs that are suggested, as well as the technicaland health jobs and specializations. He also mentions theprocedures and regulations to be accepted in the centerfor autism, and describes the cases of autism that bene-fit from the services of the center.

The third and last chapter consists of questions andanswers concerning autism, what accompanies it, howwidespread it is, the characteristics of an autistic child,and everything pertaining to autism and those that sufferfrom it.

Diagnosingand TreatingAutismIn the parliamentary elections of June 2005 the Lebanese

Council of Disabled People (LCDP) took a major steptowards the full participation of people with disability inthe political life of the country when it declared the can-didacy of three of its members. Such a step opened anew horizon for the disability movement when disabilitybecame not only an election issue, but a political powerin the campaign too.

To discuss this initiative Al-Raida met Mr. IbrahimAbdallah the President of LCDP and one of the candi-dates. Abdallah holds a Master’s in Commercial Law fromthe United States, is President of the Universities Leaguefor the Blind, and was recently reelected as a member ofthe National Committee on Disability Affairs in Lebanon.

Al-Raida: What are the main reasons why LCDP partici-pated in the Lebanese parliamentary elections throughthree of its members?Ibrahim Abdallah: LCDP had three main objectives for the2005 parliamentary elections. The first was to ensure thelargest possible participation of people with disability inthe elections: The more people with disability vote, thebetter our position to lobby for our rights. The secondobjective was to push for disability to become part of thepolitical programs of different parties and candidates.The third objective was to encourage disabled people torun in the elections.

If people with disability present their candidacy, webelieve that we can succeed in making disability a majorsocietal issue and a serious subject to be dealt with byvoters. In addition, if a disabled person were to be elect-ed, it would mean that the disability movement had wona major political power that would ensure a better fol-low-up of and pressure for the implementation of Law220 on disability.

Al-Raida: What is the importance of the presence ofsome disabled persons in parliament?IA: Over the years, we have tried to make disability a seri-ous issue for the government to deal with. Unfortunatelywe were not successful. To begin with the government isnot serious in meeting its commitment to the cause – as

required under Law 220. Second, members of parliamentdo not seem to be interested in putting pressure on thegovernment to meet its obligations according to the Law.The main reason behind this is that the disability movementdoes not give the impression of being politically strong andhence fails to win the attention of the country’s politicalsociety. A disabled person as a member of parliament rep-resenting the disability movement is a sign of the move-ment’s strength and a political passport for it inside the dif-ferent Lebanese political and administrative institutions.

Al-Raida: We know that there are some members of par-liament who are really active in the field of disability andthey had their share in the efforts to pass Law 220, whatdo you think of them? And how do you evaluate the roleof the parliament?

IA: Yes indeed, we have some friends in the parliamentbut not too many who are really concerned about dis-ability issues; but as I said they are a minority and theycan't change things around for us. The parliament did agreat job when it passed Law 220 but unfortunately –and after five years – the parliament has not done whatit is supposed to do, namely monitoring the implementa-tion of this Law. So, we have found ourselves far awayfrom the total effective implementation of Law 220 andthis is what led us to take such an important initiative.

Al-Raida: How do you evaluate the results of your cam-paign?IA: As you know we succeeded in getting one candidate torun in the elections in the Northern District – Dr. NawafKabbara. He ran as a candidate and as a member in one ofthe major lists in the region. Even though he didn’t win, hewas able to secure a large vote of around 64,000. Such avote is a positive step forward. It is also very encouraging forthe future. Unfortunately, we were not able to succeed ingetting him elected but we did succeed in putting on recordthe direct participation of people with disability in the polit-ical life of the country and in getting our cause highlighted.I believe that this experience will also encourage disabledpeople to work together and consider turning themselvesinto a political voting power that has a serious effect in theelections.

"Nobody Represents us better than us"


In December 2004 a book was publishedon Integrating the Handicapped in Schoolswritten by Professor Geryes Khouryaccording to an agreement between theMinistry of Social Affairs and theNational Committee for the Rights ofthe Handicapped in Lebanon. Thebook has 107 pages and is dividedinto six parts, with a bibliography inboth Arabic and English.

The first two parts deal with theo-retical and analytical studies,future prospects and the actualand ideal pedagogical specifics.

The first part deals with thereality of integration, in thatintegration has become aconfirmed policy in devel-oped countries, and is aright guaranteed byLebanese law, as well as by theInternational Agreement on the Rights ofthe Handicapped currently being discussed at theUnited Nations.

In the second part the writer defines the meaning of inte-gration, delineating its nature, types and conditions,drawing on pedagogical definitions on the one hand, andon the leading experiments in the field on the other. Heclarifies the way to study integration, and the currentexperiments in the field in Lebanon.

The third part deals with integrating the blind in the nor-

mal schools in Lebanon, which started sporadically and ona limited scale at the beginning of the sixties, but whichincreased in the nineties and the present century, taking onthree types: integrating the blind by sending them fromspecial schools for the blind to normal schools, then havingthem return to their special school to study and sleep. Thesecond type is complete integration whereby the blind aresent to a normal school from kindergarten till graduatingfrom high school, having their parents participate directly inthis integration. The third type is by integrating a small per-centage of sighted pupils in a school for the blind, asapplied in the Huda Institute, and which is a unique exper-iment. This part ends with what is practiced in the AhliyyaSchool where the blind pupils are integrated according tothe first and second types.

The fourth part deals with the integration of the deaf innormal schools, with a detailed account of the pupil

Rani Aqqad’s experience, and points to thematerial, logistic and academic

burdens this kind of experi-ment entails. It also describes

the experience of two institu-tions specialized in teaching the

deaf by integrating some of theirstudents in normal schools. It also

discusses the problems faced bythe deaf when they are integrated,

the difficulties they have mixing withthose who hear, as the deaf Dr.

Hussein Isma’il points out.

The fifth part is a detailed accountabout the integration of those who are

handicapped in their movement as prac-ticed in the Forum for the Handicapped in

north Lebanon, noting that the problemspertaining to the adaptation of the schools

architecturally and technically are not reallytaken into account in this experiment.

The sixth and last part is a quick overview ofthe experiments to integrate the mentally hand-

icapped, those with Down’s Syndrome andautistic pupils. In spite of this part being short it stronglyhighlights many of the problems raised by these endeav-ors, which are academic, material, social and psychologi-cal as is clearly shown in the introduction to this part andby what is said by Professor Sami Hammoud, the Directorof the Lebanese Committee for Special Education, and byMrs. Fadia Farah, Head of the Committee of TripleChromosome 21, and Head of the Lebanese Committeefor Autism, Mrs. Arwa Halawi.

Integrating the Disabledin Schools

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