MAITS will train local outreach workers in Lebanon supporting Syrian refugees, to help families with disabilities such as autism. Our partners outreach team is working with 398 people in refugee camps, including 123 children. 42 of these have a diagnosis, others may be undiagnosed. The outreach workers want disability training to better support these vulnerable families. We have a volunteer trainer and need your help to make this happen. We will translate and share the resources in Arabic.
In refugee camps in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, outreach workers are serving some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees. They have a caseload of 398 people, including 123 children. These outreach workers are trained on mental health, but not on disability and recognise this need. 42 people on their caseload have a developmental disability, such as autism and the workers want to be able to help families understand and support their child's disability. This need for resources in Arabic is huge.
We carried out a local needs assessment and saw that training outreach workers who work with families in refugee camps, would enable children with conditions such as Autism to receive support at home. Many have been living in tents for several years and have little access to resources. Families will be supported to understand their child's condition and how to manage it, through the outreach workers and the resources would be openly available on the MAITS' website in Arabic for others.
The project will support 42+ children, who as refugees with disabilities in refugee camps are some of the world's most vulnerable children. It will increase understanding of their disabilities within their communities, ensure workers are better able to signpost undiagnosed cases and provide practical support for families to help them to thrive through support and specialist resources. The resources will promote understanding of disability and practical help in Arabic speaking communities.
