1
AAMAL – Syrian Organisation for the Disabled
A New Day … A New Hope
Damascus, 16 July 2006
2
Contents
A. Disabilities are a serious problem in Syria
B. Our vision, approach and activities
C. Our plans for the near future
3
A. Disabilities are a serious problem in Syria
4
Disabilities concern us all!
5
111,420
17,793,000
In Syria, the reported number of disabled persons is ominously small with 0.6% of the overall population
Registered disabled individuals in Syria
per 5’000 registered disabled individuals (Source: Central Bureau of Statistics)or
Registered disabled individuals
Total Syrian population
0.64%Official share of disabled Syrian population
=
6
In contrast, the World Health Organization estimates that approximately 9% of the world’s population is disabled
91%
9%
Not disabled
Disabled
Share of disabled population worldwide Distribution of disability degree
90%
10%
Mild-moderate
Severe
Disability worldwide
Source: World Health Organization
• Syria is home to many more disa-bled individuals than registered
• Significant improvements can be achieved with relatively little effort for 90% of disabled individuals
7
WHO disability definition
Disability is any restriction
or lack of ability to perform
an activity in the manner or
within the range
considered normal for a
human being.
It is the outcome or result
of a complex relationship
between:
Individual's health condition
External factors that represent the circumstances in which the individual lives
Personal factors
1
2
3
A disability is the result of individual and external factors – dealing with it requires a comprehensive approach
Source: World Health Organization
8
Syria has started to address the needs of the disabled – but the remaining challenges are innumerous
Actions taken in Syria
• National law 34/2004 to protect the rights of persons with disabilities issued
• Higher Council for the Disabled1) was established to– Support policy making– Formulate a national plan of action– Make recommendations to the President
of the Higher Council, His Excellency, the Prime Minister
– Implement law 34/2004
• Increasing numbers of NGOs in Syria to address disabilities
Remaining challenges
• Insufficient scientific data and statistics on prevalence and nature of disabilities in Syria
• Insufficient facilities to attend to disabled individuals, in quantity and quality
• Insufficient professional skills and expertise in the field of disabilities
• Insufficient representation of disabled individuals’ interests
• Insufficient knowledge and awareness within the Syrian population regarding needs and rights of disabled individuals
• Insufficient Syrian legislation for disabled persons
1) Members include representatives from the Ministries of Health, Higher Education, Education, Social Affairs and Labor; and from NGOs working in the field of disabilities
9
B. Our vision, approach and activities
10
Our vision is to improve the life of individuals with disabilities in Syria
Empoweredindividuals with
disabilities living life in full
11
Our mission builds on several core elements
We strive to make a difference to the lives of
individuals with disabilities
by building knowledge and awareness,
securing treatment and rehabilitation,
and advocating social inclusion.
In doing so,
• we act as a catalyst for change
• we pursue an integrated approach
• we partner with others to achieve
the broadest impact
12
COOPERATION and NETWORKING
To implement our vision, we pursue five activity pillars – thereby, cooperation is a core principle
Governmental advocacy
Clinical research and statistics
3 54
Social awareness and knowledge
Current main activity fields of AAMAL
Postgraduate education and training
Treatment and rehabilitation facilities
21
AAMALSYRIAN ORGANISATION FOR THE DISABLED
13
To date, we have created a new Masters program and trained approx. 40 therapists that currently treat 140 patients
Postgraduate training and education
• 19 speech language pathologists graduated, currently attending clinical training year
• 20 specialists for special education in blindness, autism and teaching of the deaf will graduate in 2007
• Additionally, we have conducted numerous postgraduate training courses for autism supporting team, and various seminars and workshops to ensure continuous professional development
• Creation of a state-of-the-art treatment and rehabilitation center for speech and hearing
• Our clients so far– 142 in treatment– 97 successfully treated– Long waiting list
• Establishment of a center for autism – currently in the soft opening phase
Treatment and rehabilitation facilities
1 2 POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND TREATMENT FACILITIES
14
The creation of our center was a major step for us – we started with bricks, mortar and a lot of enthusiasm …
Installingour name
Our Center for
Speech and Hearing
1 2
Constructingthe gatehouse
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND TREATMENT FACILITIES
15
… and the conviction that the center must provide the best equipment and environment for successful treatment and rehabilitation
Treatment rooms to international ASHA standards
State-of-the-art technology
Resource center
1 2 POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND TREATMENT FACILITIES
16
At the same time, we have been active in research, building social awareness and governmental advocacy
• We have developed the facilities and professional skills to conduct research
• We provided statistics on hearing loss in intellectually impaired individuals in co-operation with Malmö University
• We organized the national conference on intellectual disability together with International Special Olympics
• We sponsored the Healthy Athletes training and screening for the Special Olympics in 2006
Governmental advocacy
Social awareness and knowledge
Clinical research and statistics
3 4 5
• We cooperate with the Ministries of Health and Higher Education in the area of postgraduate education and training
• We represent NGOs in the National Higher Council for the Disabled
• We advocate the Syrian legislation for disabled
RESEARCH, AWARENESS, AND ADVOCACY
17
C. Our plans for the near future
18
By 2010, we aim to have a significant operation in place
Our focus for treatment and rehabilitation
Our way forward
Speech and Hearing
Blindness
International top quality standards and accreditation
Comprehen-sive treatment approach
Growth to approx. 200 specialists and trainers
Regional di-versification – duplication of Damascus Center
Autism
19
Effective social awareness builder
State-of-the-art treatment and rehabilitation process and facilities
Network of recognized and committed partner
Certified training courses
Established govern-mental advocacy
activities
Acknowledged research hub
1
6 2
3
4
5
We strive to become a center of excellence in our sector
20
1 POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
We will do more training programs; established and new ones
Specialization &Certification
• In 2007, we start two new master programs in speech-language pathology and in audiology
• We will conduct fellowship training years; for current graduates it will take place in 2006-2007
• Thereby, we cooperate with Damascus University and Brigham Young University
• We will take up additional master programs in the near future for new specializations
• Our students will be accredited by internationally recognized certification (ASHA) starting in 2007
Refreshers &Seminars
Basic training
Capacitybuildingin Syria
21
We want to improve and widen our treatment and rehabilitation activities
2 TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES
Improving our center New center activities
We want to institute the ability to
• fit and intervene with high-end hearing aid technology
In addition to our centers for speech and hearing, autism, and blindness, we want to
• take up the treatment and rehabilitation of deaf palate and deaf-blind
• program cochlear implants at AAMAL center
• spread regionally by repli-cation of our Damascus operation
More treatment and rehabilitation facilities in Syria
22
We plan to conduct research to increase the Syrian knowledge in disabilities
RESEARCH AND STATISTICS3 CLINICAL RESEARCH AND STATISTICS
National and internationalcooperation
International partners• Universities in the US, Europe
and the Far East• NGOs
Regional Middle East partners• Universities in Jordan, Egypt and the • Gulf Region,
NGOs
Syrian partners• Ministries• Universities• NGOs
• We want to become a key organisation for gathering and disseminating information and statistics about disabilities in Syria
• We will conduct clinical research and design intervention strategies for individuals with disabilities. We will start with– Plato meter research– Newborn screening tests in hospitals
• We will organize, participate in and sponsor professional conferences about disabilities
23
4 SOCIAL AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE
We aim to increase social awareness and knowledge regarding disabilities in Syria through various channels
Support of parentaland communityaction groups
of events
symposiums
Professional
Organizationof academic
Promotion
programs
of media
Fostering
relationship
Information campaigns
24
We want to join our efforts with the Syrian authorities
Know-how contribution
OperationsService provider
AAMAL
A
BC
We will contribute our know-how to governmental bodies to further develop the Syrian legislation and activities for disabled individuals
A
We will cooperate with government and Syrian authorities in the fields of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation
B
We will offer services to the Syrian government and authorities, such as training, advice, audit, and management skills
C
Potential formats of governmental support
Fields where we can contribute
GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION5 GOVERNMENTAL ADVOCAY
25
6 COOPERATION AND NETWORKING
Cooperation in first master in speech and hearing pathology and special education (autism, blind-ness, teach the deaf)
Future cooperation in master programs for special education
Further cooperation in master program for audiology, and speech and hearing, and research
A wide network of cooperation partners is key in fulfilling our vision and plans for the future
Joint research for 2005-2007 launched
Support in quality control, training, and fellowship year
Damascus UniversityMalmö University, Sweden
Brigham Young University, USA Jordan University
26
To realize our goals for the future, we are constantly on the lookout for people and funds – any help is welcome
• General and project specific donations
• Cash and dedicated in-kind contributions
• Ambassadors for AAMAL, who promote our activities
• Partners, who want to work with us cooperatively
• Skilled professionals, who realize our daily achievements
• Volunteers, who support our mission
Funds
People
Needs
Needs
27
AAMAL – Syrian Organisation for the Disabled
If you have any questions or would like to support AAMAL, we are happy to be in contact with you – enjoy your evening at AAMAL!
Contact?
• Suzanne Zahredin, Executive Director• Beitara Square, Airport Highway
Damascus, Syria• Tel: +963 11 543 3619• E-mail: [email protected]• Website: www.aamalsyria.org
?