By Abdulaziz Al-Rubaie

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Parents of children with autism and down syndrome deficiencies were forces to keep their children at home following the decision of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to dismiss anyone of them whose IQ is 50 percent from its day time care schools and merge them in the ordinary schools of the general education.

The ministry said it took this measure in collaboration with the Ministry of Education about four months ago.

A number of parents said this was an end to the future of their children especially that not many of them were financially able to send their children abroad for education in the special centers for the disabled.

The parents said the move might cause a relapse for their children with autism and down syndrome.

The families asked the two ministries to postpone the implementation of their decision which has entered the execution phase with the start of the new academic year.

They said the decision should be held until the schools have been prepared for their children of special needs.

The parents said the general education schools lack arrangements for the children of special needs and lack the basic infrastructure which will enable their children to merge with the other normal students.

Didan Bin Mohammed, a Saudi father, said the schools need complete revamping and they also need to increase the number of teachers who are graduates of the special education.

He said the normal and healthy male and female students should also be prepared to accept the students with special needs.

"We are still at a shock by this decision. If many able parents were willing to take their children abroad for special education, what will be the case with the unable parents?" he questioned.

Muaz Al-Ayyafi, another Saudi, said he was surprised that his sister was kicked out of the rehabilitation center because her IQ was above 50 percent.

He said his sister would sill wake up early morning and carry her bag to go to the center without realizing that she was dismissed.

Abdul Rahman Al-Zahrani asked for carefully studying the decisions before issuing them especially those concerning the people with special needs.

"Proper schools must be carefully prepared to receive the children with special needs and that the classrooms should be in the upper floors," he said.