FEBRUARY 18 , 2009

When the heart cries provides a new definition of success

the tale of a Mother and father's fight for their child's special needs

By Deema amerah (bu '09)

Even though their infant and only child had special needs, the character of Wassim found his pathway to success because his parents cared so much about him, despite his disability.

Wassim is the disabled protagonist in a recently published story by a fourth year Bethlehem University student. 

Yet Sereen Mohammad, a senior Computer and Information System (CAIS) student, has provided Wassim a new definition of success in her first book: When the Heart Cries. Unlike many books on the subject of special needs, Sereen’s is not a story about how a child fails because it has special needs, but rather about how the parents help it to overcome the difficulties of the case and triumph.

And so, December 19, 2008 was a special day for Bethlehem University when Sereen published her book. Brother Robert, Bethlehem University’s vice president for academic affairs, told Sereen that the university is  proud of her as well as her book; especially because Bethlehem University is the first and only university in Palestine which encourages and provides for students with special needs students.  The university strives to create an environment that is physically accessible, and this includes the recent addition of a new wheelchair lift.

The inspiration for Sereen’s book came from an experience she had in the streets of Bethlehem one day.  While walking home, Sereen saw a mother who was violently hitting her disabled son. She was shocked because the child couldn't defend himself from his mother's abuse. She felt desperation for the child because he would grow into a weak person, and she decided to write a book about it in the hope that people would change their attitudes toward children with special needs.

"Understanding the issues of a special needs child is not only important to families affected by developmental delay. The need is to see each child as a unique sensitive individual who is equally talented such as any normal human. The child must have a spot of talent, but the parents should help in seeing it," Sereen said.  

The book tells a story of years of tough work, therapy schedules, enormous love and encouragement, and how it paid off for Wassim's family. His family worked hard to face society and also to find a local school where Wassim could grow normally without any abuse from other students affected by societal misconceptions about children with special needs.

The lack of primary and secondary schools in Palestine that provide for students with special needs is one of the important issues Sereen raises in the book. 

Later in the book, Iman, Wassim's mother, discovered that Wassim had artistic talent after she saw some of his paintings. She was amazed with his capability and his skill at overlapping lines of different colors.

Unfortunately, one day Iman died and his father remarried.  Wassim’s stepmother wasn’t sensitive to his special needs, so Wassim was ignored and left to live in the streets as a beggar.  One day a stranger approached Wassim on the street while he was being abused by teenagers and realized he needed to assist him.  In the end, the man helped Wassim find his way, but to tell you anymore would be to give away the ending.  

Thus, Sereen's final message is that a child with special needs is not a curse, but a divine gift who must be treated normally. Furthermore, society has to change its harmful views about these children, because, if given the chance to create, they will be able to contribute to a flourishing community.

Muhammad Salahat, an Occupational Therapist at Bethlehem University who works with students with special needs remarked that, "the overprotected family may create a barrier to the child which will prevent him to improve, develop his skills and integrate with the society.

“Sometimes the parents don't know that by not letting their children fail, they will fail too in allowing them to succeed."

Bethlehem University currently has six staff and faculty who work with special needs students on campus.  The university encourages students with special needs to take a full and active part in all aspects of university life.

Hazem Temraz, a Bethlehem University student with special needs, added that at the beginning of his studies at Bethlehem University he experienced difficulty in communicating with his lecturers because they didn’t understand his case.

Since then, Temraz said the situation has improved because university staff has worked to try to understand his case.  He applauds the faculty and staff for making a concerted effort to help him succeed. 

“But because I trust myself and have self esteem and my family’s support it has enabled me to be a dean’s list student,” he said. 

Bethlehem University is proud of Sereen for her courage to write such a powerful book, and also of the university’s special needs committee who daily work to improve the lives of our students with special needs.