Supporting parents of children with special needs

Being a parent of a child who has been diagnosed with special needs is a lifelong struggle – a journey of patience, perseverance, and sacrifice. 

“You will not realise your innermost strength until you have a child with special needs,” says Sally Y Al Chalouhi, a counselor at Awsaj Academy – part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education, which caters for students with mild to moderate learning challenges. “And it will either make you give up or it will help you recognize your strength, every day. You are managing situations that other parents would think it’s impossible!

“The pressures experienced by parents of children with special needs differ according to the child's condition – whether they suffer from behavioral problems, are unable to communicate, or have a mental or physical disability. And these determine the magnitude of the challenges ahead,” Al Chalouhi says.