Drawing a smile for disabled children in Bethlehem

Noor Society for people with disabilities would like to thank all of you who supported and contributed to the development of our  activities during the period from 1August 2019- 1 October 2019 as it continued to provide free quality rehabilitation services to children with disabilities and their families in Aida and Al-Azzeh refugee camps in Bethlehem, Palestine. The services provided by Noor Society have included physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy sessions , stupathy , medical doctor ,social worker both at  Noor School for Rehabilitation in Aida camp and in the homes of the children. Some of these services (namely the physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions, social worker sessions) have also been open to adults and elderly persons who are in need and cannot afford the therapies otherwise.

During the reporting period Noor Society has implemented health, rehabilitation, psychological and environmental activities aimed at highlighting the contribution of persons with disabilities towards the community and strengthening its inclusiveness.

The number of children, adults and elderly who have benefited from Noor Society services during the reporting period include the following:

• Rehabilitation program: 5 persons with disabilities of different ages (5 males) with microcephalia, CP, hyperactive disorder and autism.
• Physiotherapy: Regular (one to four) sessions per week for 8 children (2 females and 6 males) and 15 adults and elderly (11 women and 4 men).
• Occupational therapy: Regular (daily or every two days) sessions for 12 children and 10 adults and elderly, the same who are receiving physiotherapy sessions.
• Speech therapy: Regular (3 days a week) sessions for a total of 19 children (5 females and 7 males).
• Learning difficulties: Regular classes (three times per week) for 29 children (13 females, 16 males) between the ages of 6 and 12, divided into 4 groups based on age and academic development.
• Psychological support: Individual sessions for 12 persons (7 females, 5 males) between the ages of 5 to 23 years.

The Home Visits Program has also reached the members of 7 families who have been regularly visited by Noor Society’s staff (doctor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, psychologist and speech therapist). These cases are unable to reach the association due to their conditions and therefore receive medical and rehabilitation services at their homes, and their caretakers receive trainings on how to treat them accordingly.

During the reporting period, Noor Society has also conducted the following trainings:

• Weekly training courses for 20 mothers every Saturday afternoon to discuss on topics related to health, psychological issues, environmental issues, disability and inclusion.
• Weekly training courses for school students of fifth grade (42 students) and eighth grade (38 students) to raise awareness on psychological, social and environmental issues and disability (including types of disabilities and how to better support persons with disabilities).

Further to these, Noor Society has held the following recreational activities and events:

•  Rehabilitation class activities:The first meeting on 8/10/2019 drawing on a tin plate and water colors
•  Rehabilitation class activities: The second meeting on 15/10/2019 drawing using wax colors
•  Speech therapy activities: Assessment of 60 kindergarten children.

Project Management Report

With the beginning of the second half of the year and the approach of the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer season, efforts were devoted during this period to activities and events and the strengthening of the role of persons with disabilities in the communities and strengthen their acceptance in the family and society, efforts intensified to strengthen what has been achieved in the rehabilitation of individuals Individual and collective hand (healthy, functional, psychological, speech).
Here we present the programs and activities that lasted between 1/6/2019 and 30/8/2019.

• Qualification class:
As mentioned in the previous reports, the class targeted 7 persons with disabilities and during the previous months were evaluated about 5 new cases and the inadequacy of staff and inadequate space have been received in individual sessions. During this period, it was at the end of 30/6/2019 Transfer the seven cases to receive rehabilitation services as individual sessions and participate in the community activities of the Association
 To start the rehabilitation course for new children who were diagnosed with autism, where the number of 6 males aged between (5-6) years.

Learning Disabilities Program
During the first six months, the first educational plan for the groups was completed with the same number of 36 persons (20 males and 16 females). Five new cases (3 females and 2 males) were evaluated and placed on the waiting list.
Then the summer camp will be opened, which aims to enhance scientific skills and encourage children to discover and research through the corner of scientific experiments.

• Psychological support program:
1. Individual Psychosocial Support: (Individual Sessions) Work was completed with the previous 17 individuals and the program received 6 new cases (4 mothers, 2 adolescent females). Three of the previous cases were graduated.

2. Psychosocial support for groups: which included 3 different groups through which some mental health topics were addressed.
a. Teenagers (38 girls)
B. Children (42 children)
T. Mothers (26 ladies)

D. Integration of persons with disabilities (adolescents) with youth training groups for psychosocial support programs. Two male beneficiaries were integrated into these training programs with other youth institutions.

C. Training courses in women's mental health in other regions:
Two groups of women were targeted in two marginalized residential areas, and the target group was mothers with disabilities.

• Physiotherapy, rehabilitation and occupational therapy program
Which has been completed with previous cases
11 cases of children were aged (two years - sixteen years) and one new case was evaluated. In addition to the cases of the elderly 14 cases (9 females, 5 males) and no cases were graduated where they need periodic follow-up and ongoing treatment sessions.

Assistance Program:

• Rental of assistive devices
• 5 cases
• Wheelchairs 15 cases
• Diapers 26 cases
• Children's clothing 33 baby girl

• Pronunciation Program:
Work was completed with 17 cases (9 males and 7 females). 2 females and 3 males were graduated.

• Home Visit Program:
1. Visits to cases that have been graduated from rehabilitation programs at the end of each month
2. Visiting bedridden patients by a physician and physiotherapist.

• Medical clinic :
They receive medical consultations for all patients from Aida, Al-Izzah and surrounding areas. The clinic received approximately 45 references during the three-month period.

• Reception program for trainees and volunteers:
- Since the beginning of June until the end of August, the program received 15 trainees and volunteers.
- 6 trainees within the summer program at Al-Quds Open University specializing in special education.
- 2 volunteers from inside the city
- 7 foreign volunteers (USA, France, Spain, UK)

• Activities and Events:

1. Eid Al Fitr Celebration / pax:15   during 1/6 / 2019-5 / 6/2019
2. Rehabilitation class children trip/ pax: 7  on 30/6/2019
3. Summer camp/ pax: 30  / during  1/7 / 2019-20 / 7/2019
4. Recreational trip 50 14/7/2019
5. Recreational trip/pax: / on  50 22/7/2019
6. Music Activity / pax:6 / on17/8/2019
7. Eid al - Adha pax: 10/ 
8. Entertainment activity of volunteers/ pax: 40 /during  5/8/2019 - 7/8/2019

  In the end, the great development taking place in our programs and community activities is a product of your continued support for our ideas. From the heart of every mother, every child and an individual in the Nour Society, we thank your efforts and your support in our support ....

Thank you, and I hope that your support will continue to continue our efforts to develop the situation of persons with disabilities in the camp environment.

Links:

• Noor society for people with disabilities work