On Tuesday, 14th, October, 2008, SCHS's boarding school organized a gathering between students and heads of departments to introduce them to each other and to let them know the main techniques and methods used to provide high level of services for people with special needs. The gathering was attended by Mr. Bassim Shaquo, head chief of books exhibit unit, Mr. Emjad Tawhee, head of SCHS's Vocational Rehabilitation & Training Department, Mr. Mohammed Faouzi, head of SCHS's physiotherapy and occupational therapy department, Mr. Abed Nasser Darweeish, SCHS's principle of night school, Mr. Ahmed Husian, sports teacher at SCHS's Khorfakhan Branch, Mr. Osama Mardini, head of SCHS's media and information department, and the journalist Hazim Dahee Shihata.
At the beginning of the gathering, guests responded to students, teachers, and workers of SCHS's boarding school invitation to dinner, which was prepared to honor them. Then, deaf students welcomed and expressed their feelings of joy and happiness for attending this gathering, which establishes a foundation for mutual work between staff and students. They thanked Mr. Salah Oda, sign language interpreter, for his efforts in supporting this noble cause.
In addition, each supervisor talked about the nature of his department's work. For instance, Mr. Bassim Shaquo, head chief of books exhibit unit, talked about the unit's work. The unit is part of SCHS's media and information department headed by Mr. Osama Mardini. It is responsible for participating in local and international exhibits with SCHS's books, publications, and His Highness Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimmi, Sharjah Governor, writings.
Mr. Emjad Tawhee expressed the feelings of joy and happiness for participating in the gathering. He pointed out that they have seven different workshops at Vocational Rehabilitation & Training Department in which many students with diverse disabilities learn handicrafts in order to find suitable jobs in the future in general and private sector.
There are four different workshops for male students that include carpentry, painting, pottery, and farming, while there are three workshops for female students that include nutrition, handicrafts, and sewing. Another workshop for candles is under development right now. On the other hand, training does not stop at summertime. For instance, students train in the Middle East institution for computers on the latest technologies used in the digital world in addition to many other institutions that offer its offices for students to train in order to recruit them for future jobs.
Mr. Osama Mardini thanked deeply the students of boarding school and their supervisor Mr. Salah Oda, who with the cooperation of his students managed to advance the level of school to become a source of honor and pride for SCHS.
Mr. Osama Mardini called upon the students to take into their consideration the outstanding level they have reached and to try their best to follow up with Al Amal Kindergarten & School for the Deaf students, who have joined higher education.
Then, he talked about the media and information department, which is working since a long time. The department has in addition to its head the journalist Hazim Dahee Shihata, the Secretary Hala Nasser, and the librarian Nadia Abed. The department is covering all the news, issues, and events concerning people with special needs via constant communication with mass media.
Mr. Osama Mardini spoke highly of Al Manal Magazine, which is issued by SCHS and headed by Her Highness Shaikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimmi. It is concerned with the issues and problems of people with special needs in United Arab Emirates and the Arabian world.
In addition, he pointed out that the work in the archive and library unit, which is headed by Mrs. Nadia Abed, proves that persons who are hearing impaired have a lot to give in terms of dedication and perfection.
Mr. Mohammed Faouzi highly appreciated this nice gesture by the students of boarding school. He wished that he could communicate with them directly but unfortunately he is not familiar with sign language. Nevertheless, he thanked Mr. Salah Oda, who was responsible for sign language interpretation.
Then, he identified his section, which provides physiotherapy, occupational therapy, riding therapy, swimming therapy, and electromagnetic therapy for the students with special needs. He also wished for the cooperation between his section and boarding school to continue in the future.
Mr. Nasser Darweeish pointed out that his section is highly concerned with mental disability. It needs plans and programs of its own. He focused on that idea of calling mentally disabled persons with good names instead of calling them with bad ones.
SCHS's night school principal pointed out that mental disability is divided into three types. In the first type, which is the simple type, students can be taught easily. In the second time, which is the medium type, students can be taught after overcoming some obstacles. On the other hand, the third type, which is the sever type, is impossible to be taught because of the strong effect of disability on the mind capabilities.
Finally, the gathering was concluded with a tour inside boarding school in which guests touched the strong will of deaf students to take on their responsibilities in organizing their school to come up with the best structure possible.