RAMALLAH: As a pharmacist I would often receive many questions from concerned parents and teachers about the appropriateness of medication in cases such as autism, ADHD and the impact of that on the children's educational journey. Whereas the role of Pharmacists is strictly limited to giving advice on correct administration of medications and counseling on potential drug adverse effects, many people lack the knowledge regarding dealing with children of special educational needs. Thus stories of neglect and abuse are common and children often fall victims of the ignorance widespread in the Palestinian community regarding this issue. Educating parents and the contributing role of schools is crucial in preventing any abuse and raising awareness on the correct method to deal with these children. We should utilize available resources to help them acquire basic necessary life skills to become a functioning part of the community. One must not perceive learning disabilities as a disabling condition that will limit the capabilities of the child. The society is oriented in such a way as to immediately recognize those who deviate from the general pattern and unintentionally – sometimes even intentionally – attempt at neglecting them or push them away. Children with learning disabilities suffer silently, they often go without diagnosed in schools and their inability to deliver what they feel and the difficulties they encounter push them into isolation that continuously weakens their development for social skills. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities in New York, learning disabilities students are more prone to be less accepted by their peers and teachers. These students require more attention and their communication skills might be behind their classmates, hence are predisposed to be alienated by their teachers and classmates. These factors build strain and frustrations that drive children to become depressed, and socially withdrawn. The varied nature of learning disabilities makes it difficult for educators and parents to instantly recognize the child's problem, in addition the one to one need of attention is often exhaustive and demanding let about a class full of students. According to a 2011 survey conducted by the Palestinian Central Bureau of statistics 39.9% of persons with learning disability require psychological support and 37% require specialized education programs. As a result, affected persons are unable to attain basic skills necessary for everyday life, such as reading, writing, and using simple tools. Towards adulthood, 36.4% will need assistance and adaptations for work and other life aspects. The Palestinian education sector is in profound need for integrating special education in its schools and awareness campaigns. Easier said than done, the political situation and rampant Israeli violations delayed attention to this matter and created countless obstacles in the Palestinian education sector. Israel has constantly worked on demolishing schools built to provide basic education to children in many areas in Palestine, attention and efforts are being spent on the basic foundations of education rather than providing a holistic approach towards education. The lack of many qualified child psychologists and\or child psychiatrists in Palestine who can make proper diagnosis for learning disabilities in children is one reason why many cases go without diagnosis. “Because of that we cannot provide assistance to children with learning disability ifwe don't exactly know what is wrong" says Reham Barghouti, a counselor and Psychology teacher at the Ramallah Friends School in Ramallah, The Friends School is the only Palestinian school with special needs department recently installed to meet these special needs and to provide help for the increasing number of students diagnosed with a learning disability or facing educational challenges. Proper diagnosis by qualified professionals is the corner stone in the whole process of helping children attain skills and accommodate with their disability. Children not diagnosed by qualified professionals flounce on guesses of their situation by personals who are not qualified to assess learning challenges. A holistic assessment is required to effectively manage the different cases, for example autism is a broad spectrum disorder with variable symptoms and level of learning disability. Whereas some might be presented with severe deficiency that necessitates accommodation in facilities that provides more specialized care, others can perfectly fit in regular schools. “There is a profound lack of specialized schools that deliver management, and help children with severe forms of learning disability,” says Reham. Thus, these children are inadvertently being denied the right to receive education or a rich social environment that would provide the platform for developing social and communication skills. There is no doubt that the Ramallah Friends School has preceded most schools in Palestine in incorporating a form of inclusive education that would benefit many children facing difficulties, but this is not the case with most schools. An inclusive education system does not exist in any public or private school in Palestine thus many children suffer the consequences of a system that doesn't fairly evaluate them .This neglect and obliviousness for children with learning disabilities will hinder their proper development and cause a considerable percentage of drop out from public schools. “It is important that inclusive education and regular checkups on students become mandatory" argued Reham added. This will facilitate detection and allows prompt management to be considered. On her experience as a counselor at the Ramallah Friends School, it is equally important to discuss the repercussions of installing department of special needs. Many students who needed referral to the department felt ashamed to relate to it. “If someone was diagnosed with a certain disability it labels him for life.” Ms. Reham stressed on the importance of removing labels from this department and introducing the department as a learning support center with the aim to help rather than categorizing students. Awareness campaigns should have the aim to de-stigmatize the disability, in addition, it should aim to alleviate misconceptions related to learning disabilities; this will improve parent's response and understanding of their child and will help cease the tension parents and children face. Awareness campaigns are important because it will grow the confidence in everyone that change is possible, and children regardless of their disability, will have a bright future. BN
