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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2016 19:32:07 GMT
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatahu. This is Muhsen Admin. Please introduce yourself here  |
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Post by shaheenn on Sept 23, 2016 19:50:41 GMT
Assalam Alaikum. My name is Shaheen though some of you may know me as Umar's sister. I volunteer at Muhsen's Saturday Islamic school at Al Falah Academy in Naperville/Aurora area.
My background is in medicine but I joined Muhsen because I want to be an advocate for those w/ special needs and an ambassador for change within my community and that includes changing perceptions, preconceived judgments, language and then also the physical changes of how we interact with one another and care for each other. I joined because I can't complain unless I'm willing to first do the work to try to make things better... And even then, I really don't like to complain 😅.
I can at times come across as intense in my posts but it's because I think Muhsen's mission is important and that, as representatives of that mission, it is our responsibility to lead by example and to be eternal learners. We all have something wonderful to offer, each and every single one of us. "We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."
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Post by salm010 on Sept 23, 2016 19:56:15 GMT
Assalamualaikum! My name is Salma and I'm a graduate student working towards my doctorate in occupational therapy. For those that don't know, Occupational therapists work with people with disabilities to help them increase their independence in daily life activities. I have work experience teaching practical skills classes to adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
I am completing my Apprenticeship for my graduate program by working with Muhsen this fall. I joined Muhsen because I want to help make Muslim communities more inclusive and accommodating for our brothers and sisters with special needs.
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Post by saadia14 on Sept 24, 2016 12:21:32 GMT
Assalaam Alaikum,
My name is Saadia Qureshi, but mostly I'm referred to as Hiba's mom. Hiba is 11 years old and my eldest child. She was diagnosed shortly after birth with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). Although she had open heart surgery at 4 months of age, she has been healthy ever since Alhamdulillah. Hiba has two siblings, Hammad age 7, and Hana age 2. Our family recently moved to Naperville after struggling for 3 years with our school district to provide Hiba an inclusive education. Hiba had been self-contained for most of her academic career and we were led to believe that was the only placement for her. Once we stumbled upon inclusion, we were opened up to a whole different world. Hiba is fully included now with her general education (typical) peers in 6th grade and we cannot be more thrilled for her and her future.
MUHSEN has been such an integral part of our lives since it's inception. We were able to go to the Chicago Children's Museum and have amazing volunteers watch Hiba the entire outing, so we could give our other kids some much needed time and attention. We also utilized MUHSEN volunteers so we could attend Bayyinah's Storytelling Night with Nouman Ali Khan. Words cannot describe how amazing it feels to be able to have people we can trust watch our daughter so we can get access to services like the rest of the community. We learned about MLA Special Needs Sunday School through Joohi Tahir and are excited for Hiba to get the chance to learn to pray, read Quran, and learn more about Islam.
As many special needs families know, our Muslim communities struggle with accepting people with disabilities. There is this social stigma, misconceptions, and fear of the unknown. The work MUHSEN is doing to educate the community and provide supports for our families is amazing, and I look forward to many more events and opportunities to get involved to further their mission insha Allah.
P.S. Now that we are in Naperville and further away from family members, it makes it very difficult to find trustworthy babysitters that we can count on. If you are interested in watching our kids occasionally for date night, or so we can attend important school meetings, please contact me! Our family would love to have a few local babysitters on hand who we can call for help.
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anjum
New Member
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Post by anjum on Sept 24, 2016 12:58:50 GMT
As Salaam Walekum,
It's Anjum, finally after a zillion tries I am able to join. Alhamdulillah.
Unlike others I don't come to this group with any background (education/personal experience) in the sn realm. I simply feel an obligation to assist my fellow brs & srs because Islam is for everyone...all aspects of it. .. & they all should be accessible regardless of the challenges one is tested with.
I made a dua that Allah swt allows me to assist others using the abilities and capabilities that I know of & those that I don't even know I possess. 6 months later I assisted MUHSEN in opening its first Islamic weekend classroom. Alhamdulillah! Within a year, & still strong, we now have five special needs classrooms in two states.
With the guidance of MUHSEN, I proposed the certification program to my local musjid & assisted in launching the special needs Sunday social program, have regular special needs iftar & eid parties, provide special needs childcare at musjid events. We are now working on making the musjid more special needs friendly in every aspect. For instance, the musjid now has a braille Quran. Alhamdulillah!
I'm not sure when we, as an Ummah, began picking & choosing from our Rasool's (saw) teachings but its way over due to go back to our Islamic roots & teach ourselves to respect, include & want for every Muslim what we want for ourselves. May Allah swt guide us to those things that please Him swt & may He swt give us life to do good. Ameen.
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Post by ozaman on Sept 26, 2016 23:23:05 GMT
Assalam Walaykum Everyone,
My Name is Omer Zaman, I have been a volunteer with MUHSEN since 2015. I was diagnosed with a form of Muscular Dystrophy in 2003, which ultimately had led to the use of wheelchair. InshaAllah I hope to help any way I can to spread awareness for families who have been tested with special needs. To help build a better tomorrow, through inclusion and acceptance for those families, by sharing personal experiences and insights as someone with special needs. I pray that my personal journey can be a source of inspiration and knowledge for those who wish to help create a new culture and mindset towards our special needs Muslim brothers and sisters.
MUHSEN has provided a platform, and voice to special needs families, and it is our duty to ensure we use that platform in the most effective way possible, so that future generations can continue to benefit for years to come and families with special needs can once again feel accepted and loved by their community. May Allah swt bless MUHSEN and everyone who is working to help remind our muslim communities about the forgotten branch of the Muslim ummah.
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saba
New Member
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Post by saba on Sept 27, 2016 0:23:18 GMT
Salaam,
My name is Saba Arain, and I am the mom to four amazing little girls alhumdulillah, including my eldest daughter who has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, ADD and ASD. It may sound overwhelming, and often it is, but our journey is one of patience, faith, struggle and ultimately gratitude. We are grateful for each other, for every accomplishment she makes and for finding a community and support network in Muhsen. It has been a social and emotional outlet for me to meet the incredible people I have through events, meetings and volunteering with the group. We try to be as supportive and attend as many events as we can to be a visible sign to our Muslim communities that there is a need for inclusion and acceptance. But that's just the minimum that I hope for my daughters. I want to help create an environment that is welcoming and respectful to all members of the community. And I firmly believe that working with Muhsen and its' staff, volunteers and representatives will get us all to that place where we can be a true Ummah in the best sense iA.
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Post by Feryaal Tahir on Oct 4, 2016 0:20:52 GMT
Salaam saadia14, My name is Feryaal Tahir, and I am a senior in high school here in Naperville. Would love to help out with your kiddos iA! |
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Post by feryaal99 on Oct 4, 2016 0:24:42 GMT
Salaam saadia14 , My name is Feryaal Tahir, and I am a senior in high school here in Naperville. Would love to help out with your kiddos iA! |
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Post by bushbush86 on Oct 4, 2016 22:20:33 GMT
Salam everyone I'm new to the group. I'm new to any group really. My name is Bushra, I'm 29 years old and I have spina bifida. I'm definitely new to that being the first thing I introduce myself with.
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Post by yusuf23 on Oct 5, 2016 14:13:43 GMT
Asalam Alaikum everyone,
My name is Nikos "Yusuf" Barbaressos, I am revert to Islam since 2011. Right after I was born, I was diagnosed with Mobius Syndrome and Poland Syndrome. Mobius is a whole or partial facial paralysis caused by the absence of the 6h or 7th cranial nerve and Poland Syndrome is the absence of chest muscle in both sides or one. In my case I only have partial facial paralysis (left side) and as far as Poland Syndrome it has affected my right side where my arm is a maybe one or two inches shorter than my left and my hand in less developed. Although I have never let my disability affect me in any way and subhanAllah I live a normal life, it still sometimes gets a little hard because people will always look at you a bit different no matter what. When I heard about Muhsen I got really excited because I feel that we do need this in our community and we do need to make the Ummah more aware in regards to people with disabilities. I have not started volunteering with Muhsen yet but I do want to start doing so because I know how it is to have a disability no matter how small or big it is and I want to help my brothers and sisters in anyway possible and most importantly I want to use my personal experience to show that we are not different and we are capable of doing anything everyone else can do. My hope is to pass on that mentality to my brothers and sisters. Having said that I am located in the Dallas, Texas area, so if anyone is from this area and knows how to volunteer with Muhsen locally please get in touch. JazakAllah Khair.
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Post by Mariam Sayeedi on Oct 5, 2016 14:48:55 GMT
Salaam everyone! I'm Mariam Sayeedi, it's great to read everyone's introductions. I grew up in Naperville,IL and currently work at a behavioral health hospital here in Naperville as well. I'm a registered respite personal support worker and would love to watch your kids as well, Saadia!
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aliya
New Member
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Post by aliya on Oct 5, 2016 15:50:47 GMT
Asslamualaikum
My name isALIYA I am a teacher at Sunday school in Bolingbrook the reason I joined muhsen as I being a Muslim and Asian we have a taboo that we try to hide our illness if it is a Mental illness as we feel ashamed or don't believe in it what ever the case on my face book page I had openly discussed expressed about my clinical depression and told my members I can offer help no one came out but I am so glad an organization that not only understands but discuss the different issues and bring out scholars to have a discussion may Allah bless them and they achieve all goals they have set I have even said I can come out and speak out so people r not scared of it and know that not only I have this illness I am a mom and a teacher and volunteer at my masjid mostly at Ramadan or any event so be brave and brace yourself and be open
Jazakallah
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Post by basitikram on Oct 5, 2016 19:13:37 GMT
Asalamoalkum,
My name is Basit. I live in Dallas. I have a 9 yr old boy with Asperger.
I have joined this group to share ideas and resources available to special needs kids in Dallas area.
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rana
New Member
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Post by rana on Oct 6, 2016 11:18:45 GMT
Salam,
My name is Rana Ottallah, I live in Louisiana and I have a daughter who is Deaf with bilateral cochlear Implants. I am a MUHSEN board member and I am a special Education advocate, if you need and advice in IFSP, IEP, Transition, Deaf issues please contact me. I will be happy to help
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