On Monday, 16th, February, 2009, the students of med school started their training program on students with special needs and their families as part of the memo of understanding between SCHS and Sharjah University. The training program includes close observation of students in classes, interviews with their parents, and reading students' files, which have details about their disability and individual rehabilitation plans. Sharjah University delegation, which included Dr. Nahead Abed Khaliq, assistant professor, and Dr. Rinass Fadil, was received by Mrs. Mona Abed Kareem, Mrs. Afaf Haridi, Mr. Amjad Tawahee, Mrs. Asmah Mohammed, and Hazim Shihata.
Dr. Nahead Abed Khaliq divided students into five groups. Each group will investigate in one kind of disability through interviewing parents in order to seek information about the way they handle their disabled children as instructed by SCHS.
Groups went to the assigned departments. For instance, the group assigned to the Center for Early Intervention interviewed the mother of the student Omar, who has a unique disability called 'the opened cross'. She explained to them the meaning of this term as it was explained to her by doctors. It is a rare disability that occurs during pregnancy due to a deficiency of some substances that can be compensated for by medicine. It can be severe and cause paralysis or light as in Omar's situation. Omar has managed to overcome many obstacles courageously.
The mother of Omar pointed out that the first days of her son's suffering because of this disability were very difficult for her because she didn't have enough experience at that time. However, difficulties are less now after she has gained the required knowledge about her son's treatment. Omar needs two sessions of physiotherapy a week.
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