Are you sure you want to delete this post?
Remove
Cancel
Internet Explorer is no longer a supported browser for the Communication Matrix so features may be missing. Please switch to a different browser, such as Firefox or Chrome.
0 likes
2032 views
Religious Considerations for Arab Muslim Clients who use AAC
Diana Deaibes
9/18/2018 6:13 AM
Many Arab families I work with practice the religion of Islam; however, some families practice Christianity. It is important to know that not all Arabs are Muslims. For the families who are Muslims and engage in religious practices, they may ask their clinicians to include the language necessary for their child to participate in prayer and other religious services using their AAC system. In this blog post, I will be reviewing a few of the prominent religious holidays and observances of the Islamic faith. Being familiar with these religious holidays and observances may be important to know when providing treatment for Arab Muslim clients with complex communication needs to increase participation opportunities within their community.
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
In the Islamic faith, adults and children as young as 9 years old fast during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month-long period of praying, fasting from sunrise to sunset (no food or drinks), reading the Qur’an, donating and giving to charity. Ramadan begins during the 9th month in the Islamic calendar.
During the month of Ramadan, many Muslim families will also attend special services at the Mosque in which the Qur'an is recited through special prayers. For some Arab families who practice the Islamic religion, recording these prayers into their child’s AAC system may increase their child’s ability to participate in these special services. It is important not to assume that all Arab clients and families are religious. Including important religious sayings and prayers in a client’s AAC system would be dependent on the client’s interest and preferences. If this is of importance to the client and their family, it is likely they will let their clinician know.
The end of Ramadan is marked with a celebration known as the “Eid” or the “Eid al-Fitr”. This celebration represents the end of fasting. Many families celebrate the Eid by dressing in their best outfits, visiting extended family members, gathering during meal time, exchanging gifts of money, toys, and clothes. During the Eid, families will likely say to one another: “Kul Eid Wa-entah be-khair” or “Eid Mubarak” which means, “I wish you good health every holiday”. Just as it is important for some clients to have access to various holiday sayings and well wishes including, “Merry Christmas” or “trick or treat”, “Eid Mubarak” may be important for an Arab client (of all ages) to have available in their AAC system to express to family members and friends during the Eid celebration.
To read more about Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-adha, refer to these resources:
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/07/eid-al-fitr-160701164352978.html
https://www.livescience.com/61815-what-is-ramadan.html
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/...
Ashura
Ashura is a major religious commemoration in the Islamic faith. It is a week of remembrance held every 10th day of the first month of the Arabic calendar. For the Muslims who identify with the Shi’a group, Ashura is a week of sorrow and mourning the loss of Prophet Mohammad’s grandson, Hussein. During this week of Ashura, Shi’a Muslims do not listen to music, dress in colorful clothing, or partake in any activities of celebration. For Muslims who identify with the Sunni group, they may also spend the week of Ashura mourning the loss Hussein as well as fasting. If you are working with a practicing Muslim family, they may ask that you do not play music during the therapy treatment. If you are working with an older child who participates in prayer services at the Mosque, including the Islamic prayers in their AAC system may be of importance to your client and their family.
To learn more about the Ashura observance, refer to this resources:
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-...
http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/ashura-islam/
Speech-Language Pathologist,Educator,Parent/Family Member,Occupational Therapist,Physical Therapist,Researcher,Developer Vendor,Other,Arabic
This post is part of the collection
0 Replies
© 2024 Charity Rowland, Ph.D.
Site by State33 and Smith & Connors
Add this post to
Write a note about why you chose this post to appear in your collection.
Try the Matrix
Please select a statement below that describes the type of matrix administration that you would like to begin.
Please wait while we process the matrix ...
You are about to TRY the Matrix Assessment tool.
Your information will not be saved unless you register. You may register for free at anytime throughout the tryout by clicking the orange button bottom right.
Your information is private.
The information you enter in the assessment is completely secure and cannot be identified. When you use this free service, we ask you to provide some very basic information about the individual you are assessing (gender, age, ethnic background, country of residence, disability and specific impairments) and your relationship to that person. However, we have no way of indentifying who has used this service.
Teachers:
Many teachers require their college students in communication disorders or child development classes to complete a Communication Matrix online. Please have your students use the Test Drive site for this purpose. You may ask them to print out the Profile and Communication Skills List as proof of their work.
Statement A
My child doesn't seem to have real control over his body yet.
The only way I know that he wants something is because he fusses or whines when he's unhappy or uncomfortable, and he smiles, makes noises or calms down when he's happy and comfortable. Does this statement describe your child?
Statement B
My child has control over her own behaviors, but she doesn't use them to try to communicate to me.
She doesn't come to me to let me know what she wants, but it's easy for me to figure out, because she tries to do things for herself. She knows what she wants, and her behavior shows me what she wants. If she runs out of something to eat, she will just try to get more, rather than trying to get me to give her more.
Does this statement describe your child?
Statement C
My child clearly tries to communicate his needs to me through gestures, sounds or language.
He knows how to get me to do something for him. He uses some of the kinds of behaviors below to communicate:
- Gestures such as pointing, shaking his head, tugging at my arm or looking back and forth between me and what he wants
- Sounds such as squealing to show you he wants something or fussing when he doesn't want something
- Language or symbolic forms of communication such as speech, written words, Braille, picture symbols, 3-dimensional symbols or sign language
Does this statement describe your child?
How to score your child
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging
Mastered
– Does this independently most of the time when the opportunity arises
– Does this in a number of di erent contexts, and with di erent people
Emerging
– Does this inconsistently
–
Only does this when prompted or encouraged to do so. Only does this in one or two contexts or with one person.
Tips on Communication Devices
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging