Muslims with Disabilities Need Religiously and Culturally Nuanced Spaces
By Rabia Khedr
Sep/Oct 2024
Islam places a profound emphasis on the care and support of the vulnerable, including people with disabilities. The Quran and Hadith provide numerous examples that highlight the importance of supporting them and ensuring that they’re treated with dignity and respect.
Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) emphasized this duty so that these Muslims would be included and considered valued members of society.
DEEN Support Services began as a conversation around a kitchen table to address their lack of support and representation in mainstream organizations. This organization has grown from a drop-in program at a local masjid to purchasing a property and running programs seven days a week. This has led to laying the foundation and serves as the backbone of a visionary initiative to establish Canada’s first residential care home for Muslims with disabilities. Its underlying principle is “Nothing about us, without us.”
People with disabilities, particularly intellectual ones, are often the most vulnerable, abandoned, impoverished, abused, neglected, stigmatized and isolated people worldwide, regardless of faith. Cultural misperceptions contribute to devaluing them and keeping alive the prevailing negative attitudes.
Although federal and provincial legislation stresses a rights-based approach and supports it via the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol, Canada has yet to make inclusive and equitable services and support for racialized people with disabilities a reality. The 2017 official Canadian Survey on Disabilities shows that the prevalence of disabilities is greater than many realize — 22% of Canadians identify as disabled.
Additional Hurdles
Such Muslims face a unique set of challenges in Western societies. Along with the usual barriers such as lack of accessibility and social exclusion, they often encounter additional hurdles. For example, mainstream establishments may not adequately cater to their religious practices, dietary restrictions or the cultural nuances essential for their well-being. In many cases, Muslims and their families struggle because no existing facilities respect their daily religious observances, such as prayer times and halal food.
Such realities can lead to feelings of isolation and neglect. Personal stories abound of families having to choose between quality care and maintaining their religious identity — a choice that no one should have to make.
Conventional services in a Western context cater to the needs of middle-class white families who have been integral, along with their faith communities, to establishing and shaping social policy and programs that support people with disabilities. As in the community living movement, families drove the nation’s deinstitutionalization process. Canada used to place people from childhood into regional centers or hospital-like institutions.
As human rights advancements were being made for racialized people, women and other minorities, parents and individuals with disabilities began demanding to live in the community with support. Supportive housing models, home care services and group homes emerged as options, leading to the shutdown of institutions and sheltered workshops.
Christian and Jewish denominations set up service agencies to apply for government funds to operate group homes and other programs. Although open to supporting their diverse needs, these places often fall short of meeting lifestyle needs.
Through the 2007 “Towards An Inclusive Ummah Muslims With Disabilities Speak-Out” report, these communities documented their members’ needs and ultimately established DEEN Support Services and the Muneeba Centre (purchased interest-free through the Ansar Cooperative Housing Cooperation). The center’s vision is to offer cross-disability services and implement a respite and a care residential model that responds to the cultural and spiritual needs of Muslims with disabilities and their families.
There is a pressing need for homes designed to cater specifically to the faith and cultural needs of these Muslims. Such homes would provide a supportive environment in which individuals can practice their faith freely and live among those who understand and respect their cultural background.
Bridging the Gap
The current landscape of disability housing in the West often overlooks these critical aspects, thereby creating a gap that this new initiative aims to fill. Testimonials from affected families highlight the profound impact that faith-based homes could have. One mother shared, “My son’s disability means he requires constant care, but finding a facility that also respects his need to pray and eat halal food has been impossible. This project gives us hope.”
The vision behind this project is to create an inclusive, supportive and faith-based living environment. The mission is clear: to ensure that every resident can live with dignity, respect and full access to his/her religious practices. The home will incorporate key Islamic values, such as compassion, community and service to others. The project’s goals are ambitious but attainable: to establish a model that accommodates a number of residents and to provide them with individual units, communal spaces and supports that cater to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. The home’s design and facilities will ensure that accessibility and religious observance are seamlessly integrated.
This initiative’s success relies heavily on our community’s involvement and support. Fundraising efforts, events and volunteer opportunities have been crucial to mobilizing resources and raising awareness. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with numerous testimonials from leaders and members alike expressing their support. One leader remarked, “This project is a testament to our collective commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind. It’s about building a future where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can thrive.”
This project’s impact cannot be overstated. It will provide a safe, nurturing and religiously compliant environment in which residents can live fulfilling lives. The benefits extend outward, setting a precedent for similar initiatives nationwide and, potentially, worldwide. Long-term, this project promises to foster a more inclusive society where all individuals’ needs are met with compassion and respect. It will serve as a model for integrating cultural and religious considerations into disability care, benefiting all faith communities.
Undertaking such a project comes with its fair share of challenges. Securing adequate funding, navigating regulatory requirements and ensuring that the design meets all accessibility standards are significant hurdles. However, through strategic planning, community support and unwavering determination, these challenges are being addressed.
The initiative to build such a home represents a significant step forward in creating a more inclusive and compassionate society. It also underscores the importance of addressing individuals’ unique needs while respecting their faith and cultural identity. In fact, it’s not just about building a home, but about building a future in which everyone is valued and supported. As this initiative progresses, there will be a continued call for support and involvement. Together, our community can ensure that this vision becomes a reality, providing a beacon of hope and a model for future projects.
For those interested in learning more or getting involved, can visit https://deensupportservices.ca. Together, we can make a difference and build a future in which everyone has a place to call home.
Rabia Khedr is national director of Disability Without Poverty and CEO of DEEN Support Services.
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