JEDDAH, 6 October — Deborah Zahid is determined to bring new opportunities to families with autistic and disabled children in Jeddah. The Jeddah Help Center has started a weekly program with Zahid’s international veterinary clinic, in the hope of introducing to the disabled children animal-assisted therapy.
Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ali Al-Namlah estimates that there are 42,500 diagnosed autistic children in the Kingdom, yet there remain many undiagnosed cases.
Its prevalence rate makes autism one of the most common developmental disabilities. But most of the public, including many professionals, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how they can effectively work with individuals with autism. That is why the new Jeddah program is such an important development.
While there is no conclusive scientific evidence that this form of therapy works, seeing in this case is definitely believing. Arab News had the opportunity to watch the children interact with a parrot, a rabbit and a miniature pony. The smiles, the exuberance and the hope were overwhelming. The children were inquisitive, focused and obviously filled with joy.
Zahid said: “You might trigger a reaction that a child had never experienced before, and that’s positive. All children who have disabilities can benefit. It’s an effort to enhance the lives of children, to reach those that are normally difficult to reach.”
Studies have shown animals have been able to supply autistic children with an emotional bond that bridges them to the world.
The Jeddah Center for Autism will also be incorporating Zahid’s program.
Animals are known to enrich human lives in many ways. Simply stroking a furry creature can soothe nerves and inspire a smile. For an autistic or disabled child, the bond that is established with animals can make it easier for behavioral change to occur.
“The changes may be very subtle, but profound —communication in terms of facial expressions, sounds and movements,” explains Zahid.
Zahid has been doing this work on her own until now, but she hopes to get some support from the local community in her bid to make this dream a reality.
She explained about what she hopes to achieve.
“I hope to try and educate people on how to handle and protect their animals and pets. This would provide better understanding of the animal’s needs and in turn give them a better life. In the Kingdom there’s a great love for all animals and hopefully we can better educate the masses on how to take care of their pets properly.”
Also on Zahid’s agenda is the possibility of creating jobs for handicapped women, where they can help in a refugee center for abandoned animals.
“It’s very hard to find jobs for the mentally or physically handicapped. They have a lot to offer, if they are given the opportunity.”
Most important is the ongoing project of encouraging handicapped children to interact with animals, which has taken center stage in Zahid’s scheme. “It’s one of only a few of its kind in the world that’s completely non-profit motivated, and it is right here in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
For further information call: Tahliah International Veterinary Clinic on (02) 669-5554.
