Being a child with a disability in a refugee family

After fleeing to Jordan in 2013, Abd Alnor’s mother struggled to find affordable rehabilitation services for her son. Abd Alnor did not receive treatment for long time.

Discovering her son’s disability

Abd Alnor's mother was badly shaken by his first seizure: he was just 2 years old. She rushed to the hospital where doctors diagnosed him with epilepsy and developmental delay.

Abd Alnor started to stand upright at the age of 4 and he still has difficulty with daily activities, especially in fine motor activities such as dressing and moving his hand. His mother has suffered from her son’s isolation. She said:

“He doesn’t want to interact with other children and can't play with others.”

Finding accessible services

The family lives in a rented basement with Abd Alnor’s three brothers and sisters near the Irbid refugee camp. They use a wheelchair to go outside with Abd Alnor.

During their rounds, HI's community-based volunteers met the family and informed them about the accessible services at Basma Hospital, HI’s partner hospital in Irbid city. With HI’s support, Abd Alnor resumed his therapy.

It has been a great change for this family as many refugee families face serious difficulties to access health services.

A long and complete therapy

For Abd Alnor, the physical therapy he is receiving aims to increase power of the core muscles so that he can be more independent from sitting to standing. Our occupational therapist has also helped him to be more independent in daily activities such as washing, dressing, etc.

HI's psychosocial worker has helped Abd Alnor to interact with the people around him and to be able to play with toys. His mother is delighted:

"Abd Alnor now interacts more with others and tries to play with children. He didn’t feel isolated and isn’t ashamed. The effect of psychosocial therapy is like magic.”

Visible progress

Abd Alnor is beginning to improve his movement, especially in the transfer from sitting on the floor to standing. Dressing and grooming are even more difficult for him.

He now tries to hold the laces of his shoes by himself and enjoys playing with the sand in the center with the occupational therapist. He likes building castle in the mud. Her mother says:

"I’d like to see my son do it all by himself."

HI's response to the Syrian Crisis

HI and its local partners have been assisting Syrian refugees and vulnerable people in Jordan and in Lebanon since 2012.

In 2019, we had an amazing impact:

Jordan

• HI and its partners provided rehabilitation sessions to 3,215 people.
• HI supplied 382 people with mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, canes, and crutches.
• HI supported more than 400 people with psychological and social aid.
• HI worked with 11 local partners.

Lebanon

• HI and its partners provided rehabilitation sessions to more than 3,000 people and supplied around 500 people with mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, canes, and crutches.
• HI supported around 220 people with psychological support.
• HI conducted 2,000 Risk Education sessions on the dangers of unexploded weapons, which reached more than 40,000 people.