The imam of a Birmingham mosque has decided to open the mosque doors to allow parents to bring their autistic children for the first time, moving many parents to tears.
Imam Mohammad Asad, the Lead Imam at Birmingham Central Mosque, introduced Autism Hour at Birmingham Central Mosque to fill the gap for neuro-diverse children who need a calmer atmosphere.
“All sorts of children have different needs and the Muslim community needs to do more to accommodate them. This was the initiative to open Autism Hour and we were the first Mosque to do this,” he told Birmingham Mail.
Read Also: Finsbury Park Mosque Hosts Autism Support Event
“Families were interested and brought a lot of ideas. Kids were able to run around and parents had tears in their eyes as they could never bring their children before.
“It was the first time their children had ever step foot inside a Mosque. Normally the kids get shouted at by people who don’t realize they are autistic.”
Autism Hour
Hosted every three months, the Autism Hour allows families to bring neuro-diverse kids to enjoy sensory areas, arts and crafts, quiet time and work with volunteer teachers.
Each event, running since 2019, has an Islamic theme such as Ramadan or Hajj.
“It is a chance for kids to feel welcomed and where parents can connect and share advice, resources and practice. What better place than the house of Allah?” he said.
“Parents felt valued and acknowledged, it is a magical feeling for them. Some are experienced with autistic kids and some are just beginners.
“They are scared to open up because of the stigma, they get put down by other people who think they don’t know anything about autism.”
Imam Asad believes more should be done to accommodate children with various needs inside the mosques.
“These are not naughty children as there could be 100 reasons for their behavior, it could be autism. We need to educate the community and other Mosques should look into it,” he said.
“Some have done it but there is no open door access. We have plans to get better and upscale with more activities.”
What Is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by troubles with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The disorder’s signs usually get noticed in the first two or three years of a child’s life.
These signs often develop gradually, though some children with autism reach their developmental milestones at a normal pace and then worsen.
This disorder is a result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors include certain infections during pregnancy such as rubella as well as valproic acid, alcohol or cocaine use during pregnancy.
The post Mosque Holds Special Sessions to Accommodate Kids with Special Needs appeared first on About Islam.
source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/mosque-holds-special-sessions-to-accommodate-kids-with-special-needs/
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