El-Alb Al-Farhan (The Joyful Heart) Centre for Those with Special Needs 
 

About us: 

It is a centre that teaches and trains those with special needs to help them integrate with society by gaining the skills necessary for them to survive, and to change some of the undesirable habits which they have acquired due to emotional distress.  It also strives to change the way in which they are perceived by society. 

Our Vision: 

We envision a world where people with disabilities are inspired, respected, engaged in their community, and empowered to achieve their personal best and where families, guardians, and advocates receive the knowledge, resources and support they need. 

Our Mission: 

We strive to apply the best and most up-to-date training and rehabilitation programs together with supportive services for people with special needs.  We provide:  

  • Medical care including medications, physical and occupational therapy, orthotics, and prosthetic equipment, as well as psychological therapy. 
  • Social events that offer opportunities for socializing with other disabled people and with workers through days out and specially arranged activities.  
  • Academic and vocational programmes.  
  • Assistive equipment and standing frames for disabled children who otherwise would have no help with sitting or standing unassisted.  

Work Areas: 

First: The disabled 

To care for and rehabilitate disabled children medically, socially, educationally, and vocationally. 

Second: Families  

Offer health education to the families of those with special needs and teach them how to deal with their disabled children. 

Third: Society  

Encourage society to accept disabled people and to recognize their abilities rather than their disabilities. 

 

 

The Centre’s Activities: 

1- Educational Activities 

(Early intervention – Pre-School Age – School Age) 

With the mental/intellectual age of everyone taken into consideration the centre helps the disabled to acquire: 

  • Self-care   
  • Social Development  
  • Linguistic Development  
  • Motor Development  
  • Behaviour Adjustment  
  • Receptive Skills Development  

2 – Vocational Training 

Different apprenticeships are offered according to everyone’s ability.  These include leather workshops, wood workshops, wax workshops, and beads workshops. 

3 – Social Activities  

The centre organizes trips and parties monthly and on special occasions in addition to a summer trip to the Red Sea. 

4 – Health Activities 

The Centre provides healthcare including regular check-ups, follow-ups, and physiotherapy.  It also supplies different medications as per specialists.  The centre participates in different health projects, for example, “Million Health” and vaccination against Coronavirus. 

5 – Physiotherapy Department 

This department has different equipment that is specific for physical disabilities that accompany mental disabilities. 

6 – Department of speech and language therapy 

 

 

7 – Department of sensory integration 

It is basically a room equipped with special devices to stimulate the senses of autistic children suffering from sensory integration dysfunction. 

 

Daily Program: 

Our program starts at 8 am and runs until 1:30 pm (the centre is closed on Fridays and Sundays). 

The day begins with a morning queue including singing the national anthem and physical exercises, then all the children are sent to different classes depending on their needs (educational or vocational). 

The kids in the centre are taught social skills and manners and receive speech therapy.  They also learn how to be self-sufficient.  Reading, writing, math classes as well as basic handcrafts are offered to all children.  Individual differences within the class are taken into consideration and an individualized monthly action plan is established to achieve each child’s target objectives.