Maria Wehbe, Staff Writer

January 4th, 2021

Special Needs and Disabilities: two terms that are considered a taboo once found on the tip of your tongue in our society, but this should not be the case. 

People with Disabilities and Special Needs face hardships and mayhem in their daily lives all over the world, and this is something that should no longer be overlooked. In fact, Dr. Rim Nashabe Mouawad, a professor of Special Needs Education at the American University of Beirut and the principal of “Step Together”, a school for special needs students in Mansourieh, clearly stated that: “The situation of people with disabilities around the world is very critical, especially amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

The worldwide spread of this virus has taken a toll on everyone around the globe, yet no one can imagine how much people with Disabilities and Special Needs have suffered while trying to accommodate to the emerging problems due to the worldwide pandemic. “Generally speaking, in special education, one of the strategies that works the best is a structured routine – and that’s gone” (1). So much was stripped away from them during this global crisis, these problems include but are not limited to: lack of physical interaction, availability of medical help, proper emotional support as well as educational assistance and services. These students have to face daily challenges to maintain a certain degree of normalcy in their lives. Now, it is true that this has been taken away from all students, however those with Special Needs and Disabilities seemed to have had a harder time adapting to life online. They have had to face life’s daily challenges wherever they’d go: to school, to the mall, to their friends’ house, anywhere really. At least, the school was seen as a safe environment for them to fully be who they are and not be scared of revealing themselves. Also, not only has it been hard for the students, but the amount of stress that is being put on their parents or caretakers is just indescribable: “They have become the school, the teachers, the lunch monitors, the school nurse, the recess monitor and now they’re also becoming the researcher as they try out different routines.” (1)

When examining the situation in Lebanon, it becomes obvious that the country is not ready to accommodate and provide these students with what they need in order to receive proper and high-quality education. In other words, they need modifications and specialized material and personnel that are ready to fulfill their specific needs, because they cannot be given the same curriculum, material, assessment methods and teaching methods as students that do not present these specific needs. Dr. Mouawad reaffirms by saying: “There has been too much instability in Lebanon since October 2019. NGOs haven’t been paid since 2019 and contracts haven’t been signed in 2020 yet.” The situation in Lebanon is very dire and because NGOs aren’t receiving the funds that they need, thus Students with Special Needs and Disabilities are paying the price. 

With all the events that have accumulated over the past year or so, with the most recent one being the devastating 4th of August Port Explosion, lodging and food were seen as the top priority all over the country, with little importance given to schools and NGOs. 

Accommodations and adaptations for students with Special Educational Needs at schools in Lebanon are very expensive and require a wide range of material and personnel that are ready to answer to these students’ needs. However, the funding limits the possibility of expansion of these programs. This leaves little to no room for these students to properly thrive and come out of their shells that they have had to stay in for so long as a result of the discrimination they face at the hands of society. This brings us to another point: recognizing people with Disabilities and Special Needs as part of society isn’t normalized in our country yet, and this reality is unacceptable and infuriating. Not only do these people suffer within the educational system, but they suffer every day and everywhere: no matter what they’re doing, no matter where they are. “I hope that people support families of individuals with special needs”, proceeds Dr. Mouawad. 

It is true that lack of material and necessities for these students is one of the main problems within our society, however the lack of teacher and personnel training is a very serious issue. Not all teachers are ready to welcome students with Special Needs and Disabilities into their classrooms because of the lack of skills in knowing how to properly teach them. This leads to segregation, even though one of the main principles that should be found within our society is integration. The problem lies within the educational system that does not fundamentally require teachers to have minimum knowledge on this matter. 

Evidently, so many problems and difficulties surface when talking about this extremely crucial and time-sensitive issue. “The first thing we need to do is to prioritize education because these students are the future generation, the leaders of tomorrow and it is important for them to take control.”, stressed Dr. Mouawad. However, how are they supposed to take control when they are not even being given the slightest bit of freedom? When every single aspect of their life is decided for them?  

The problem starts with us: we need to change the way we look at the matter and we need to make a difference, because they deserve better. We need to do better. 

References:

(1)  https://now.tufts.edu/articles/how-covid-19-has-affected-special-education-students