Disability in Al-Samou town:
The percentage of disability in Hebron is about 3.6%. According to the census of 2011, the number of persons with disabilities in Al-Samou town is definitely estimated at 785. Broadly talking, the percentage of disability among males is higher. It is estimated at 3.9% in Hebron province. Whereas the percentage of disability among females is 3.2% in Hebron. In Al-Sa
mou town the number is 785 persons with disabilities (346 females and 439 males). The role of Al-Samou municipality in social sector:
Al-Samou municipality has recently adopted a successful strategy aiming at serving all the needs of persons with disabilities in this town. And has been translated practicable in the context of project "Addressing the social needs of persons with disabilities through the Local Authority", which is implemented in partnership with QADER for Community Development and funded by the Government of Italy through the Palestinian Municipalities Support Program. Municipal cooperate with all relevant authorities, and works for the planning and coordination of the disability sector from the perspective of a human rights and development for the growth rate of persons with disabilities and improve the services provided to them and contribute to their integration in society. Accordingly, Al-Samou municipality has established the social services department, which emerged from Al-Samou municipality community centre. The municipality started work in this centre in the first of January 2012, where the centre is mainly aimed at people with disabilities and provide them with important and necessary services. Strategic aims:
1- The persons with disabilities should get all essential and vital social needs of high quality.
2- To help our citizens be aware and conscious of the persons with disabilities and their rights. We can achieve this aim through social programs.
3- Co-operation and co-ordination with all sides and with all local sources to get all possible help for the centre. The philosophy of the social centre:
From social and human of view, the citizens who suffer from disabilities are not less than the healthy ones. This citizen who suffers from disabilities should have the same equal rights in this society their physical and mental disabilities should not prevent them from taking part in their society .they neglected or marginalised. Despite all their sufferings they can be good, positive and constructive in their society, if they get good help and care. In this case, they can participate efficiently in their society. Al-Samoa municipality is highly concerned of this social sector. With the help of this social centre. Our municipality is aiming at achieving these goals:
1- With the help of enlightenment and education programs, our citizens will change their views about persons with disabilities.
2- To help persons with disabilities reaching the places want to go too easily.
3- Distinguished services fulfil the needs of persons with disabilities and their families. We can achieve this by coordinating with all acting establishments in AL-samou town. Direct services given in this centre:
1) First: MOVE program (movement for learning and life). This section is known of giving high quality and distinguished services for the severe cases of disability based on a new method which is known as "MOVE". It means (movement for learning and life). It is based on the principle of "move to learn and live" rightly enough, "motion is the cornerstone of learning process". This program enables them to acquire many essential skills they need in sitting, standing and walking. In turn, it increases their motion and makes them able to depend on themselves and moreover it helps them to communicate with others and be healthier. It helps to broaden their skills and fill their life with activity and happiness. The beneficiary and category aimed at by this program are the children from 3 – 15 years old who suffer from severe disability.
2) Second: Special education. This section introduces distinguished services in the field of special education for the retardate children, "children who suffer from a mental retardation". This service also checks their skills and abilities and help in building a suitable educational program for the children. This program aims at teaching the children and making them able to depend on themselves. The aimed at and beneficiary categories are the children who suffer from mental retardation especially simple and moderate cases, aging from 6 to 10 years.
3) Third: speech and language therapy. This section presents well-qualified and distinguished services to cure the problems of speech and language. For this, there is a speech and language therapist work to assess, diagnose and treat children who are suffering from problems in communication, language and pronunciation in dealing with the following problems:
- The difficulty of understanding and expression.
- Dysgnonsia.
- Dysphonia.
- Dysphasia.
- Dyslalia.
- Problems of harelip.
- Dysphagia.
- Hearing problems.
- Stuttering. The aimed at and beneficiary categories are all male and female (including both persons with disabilities and non-disabled).
4) Forth: Physiotherapy. This section provides distinguished services in the field of physical therapy, where there are two specialists (male and female). This service is provided for children with disabilities in the center sections, and also curing out patients sent by specialized doctors. The beneficiary categories are from all ages both males and females, either disabled or not.
5) Fifth: Psychological and social support. For this kind of services there is a psychological and social Specialist whose work is to look after the disabled children and also cooperates with their families giving them all information and skills which enable them to cope positively with the kind of disability. The administration in the centre is aware of this mission. So it is doing its utmost to spread awareness and enlightenment which enhance social responsibility among citizens. The beneficiary categories are both persons with disabilities and their families from all ages, males and females.
