Workers Muslims And Disabilities

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Of course in every society, race or religion, there are some people that live with illnesses or disability.

It is very important that these people are not overlooked or shunned by their communities.

So, I am very happy to report that Muslim communities are doing more to help Muslims who have needs, identifying where modifications can be made to accommodate them in Mosques, functions and other gatherings as much as possible.

I know some mosques that have places and people to help those who are blind, like a place for guide dogs to stay whilst a person from the mosque takes the owner to the prayer rooms or helps them to use other facilities that they may have, mosques where sign language is used in all major functions in different dialects to help those with hearing impairments, large screens with subtitles for those who may not be able to access the main prayer halls, ramps for wheel chair users, Qur’ans in braille, large print etc.

There are libraries where more people can access information with staff for them to ask questions or help them in any way possible.

Outreach programs for people with physical disabilities to take part in sports or other outdoor activities….. everything that can make a person feel like they are able to be more involved in the community without having to rely so much on family members to escort them everywhere.

And these are brilliant steps to make places more “disabled person” friendly.

I know that sometimes people may feel that those with disabilities are shunned by the wider communities and I would have to admit that it would have looked true not that long ago.

But things are changing for the better.

More Muslims are worried about those who may not have the same access to services, books or buildings that able bodied people take for granted and are doing something about it.

There are many fundraisers going on to build or extend mosques/ halls (or renting places) that can give more Muslims the chance to be a part of the brother/ sisterhood.

By having these facilities in place, it is making able bodied Muslims think more about what they can do to contribute to these causes.

It is heartwarming to be able to communicate with more/ new people who would other wise stay at home.

During major functions, I know some mosques that do live streaming on Paltalk and Ustream for those who could not make it and the attendance on them are always very good too.

So, that image or disabled person= unheard of or seen in my mosque, is being broken.

Muslims are showing the world that not only do we care and have concern for anyone who is disabled, we are meeting their needs in positive ways.

A brother I met a few years back mentioned the kind of steps several mosques took to help him after he was severely burnt in an accident.

There was always someone on hand to help him walk, a place made for him where he could sit (it was too painful for him to stand) during prayers, brothers regularly offering to pick him up and drop him home before/ after the Friday prayers, and in the end minus the financial help, people ready and willing to go to his home and help him in all sorts of ways that he felt he would not have got from anywhere else (apart from services offered by the hospital and rehabilitation center he was in).

I think a few years back now and repeated at the beginning of this year, BBC2 did a documentary into some of the mosques who offer such services (they focused more on hearing impaired Muslims), and one of the mosques that I attend was featured in it.

The brother mentioned some of the other plans they have in the pipe works like mini bus services for the elderly or wheelchair users, trips and food services that they wanted to offer for low income families, child orientated activities for those with many types of physical and mental disabilities.

It may be slow in coming but it is not only been thought on but action IS being taken.

There are even some places that are helping those who are worried about marrying because they have a disability in finding a spouse who will not only love them for who they are, but be a support , a friend and all the other beautiful things that can come with having a spouse.

For ANY Muslim out there who feels that they need these kinds of services or extra help to be a part of the Muslim Umma, know that the able bodied are out there trying their best to become more aware of what needs that are not being met.

So, please ring, write, e-mail, go down or send someone on your behalf to your local mosque and make them aware that you are a part of their community, as a nation, we are supposed to help each other. Do not feel that there won’t be the help if you ask.

To all able bodied Muslims, don’t wait for it to be a family member who needs this or any other kind of help before you take action. It IS our duty to take care of the young through to the old.

The able and the disabled.

One final thing, all of these things are not going to happen if people are not willing to put in some time, effort and donations.

Some people have the skills, some have the time, some have the means, so please get involved in any way possible.

wheelchair users muslim