Shahzaib’s Club House, a group of differently abled individuals, will host Special Day of Joy at Din Din compound in Janabiya. More than 50 people are expected to attend the programme, which will feature a variety of activities, from 11am onwards, including a pool party and refreshments.
While the experience is specifically tailored for children on the spectrum and their families, anyone who wishes to support the club house’s mission of inclusivity and celebrate the unique talents of autistic children is welcome to attend.
The major attraction will be a symbolic blue-and-yellow balloon release ceremony, displaying the spirit of hope. The interactive experience will also comprise prayers for the safety of Bahrain and the world.
“Our children will write prayers on handmade cards created by the tots themselves under the guidance of our volunteers, and these will be sent out,” club house founder Amena Shahrukh told GulfWeekly.
“Special Day of Joy is designed to foster community spirit. Since our children love swimming, we have organised a pool party to provide them with a sensory activity in a happy environment.
“Families will also share meals, where each one will bring one dish, forging deeper bonds,” added the Pakistani expatriate.
“Our balloon release ceremony will have a unique, personal element where children lead the way in sharing hope. We wanted our young ones to be the heart of this event. Releasing the prayer cards with the balloons symbolises their voices and contributions being sent out into the world and will showcase their creativity and place within the wider society.”
The Janabiya resident started the club house three years ago as an extension of her personal journey with her late son, Mohammed Shahzaib Lali, who was differently abled. He died of pneumonia at the age of 21.
Gloria Antony from Tubli, who has been closely working with the club house and other local platforms for the differently abled for many years, noted that the goal is to ensure that children on the spectrum are not just observed, but are a vibrant, active part of the community.
“By celebrating their preferences, like their love for the water, we move from ‘awareness’ to active ‘acceptance’,” said the Pakistani national.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental condition marked by disruptions in brain signalling that cause people to behave, communicate, interact and learn in atypical ways.
According to a recent report published in the Journal of the Bahrain Medical Society, the prevalence of autism in the kingdom is estimated at approximately four per 10,000 children. This year, World Autism Awareness Day is being celebrated under the theme ‘Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value’, highlighting and affirming the dignity and worth of all autistic people as part of our shared human future.
In keeping with the spirit, Halla by Alia, Bahrain’s first cafe run by young adults with autism, recently hosted students of Alia Early Intervention and Rehabilitation Centre and their families for a morning of coffee and autism-themed baked goods, as previously reported on GDNOnline.
To learn about the upcoming event, follow @shahzaibsclubhouse on Instagram.
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