This Christmas, please donate to help more children like Nidal

Thanks to therapy at our Al-Amari Centre provided by your donations, Nidal has gone from being unable to sit or focus to learning wonderful new skills like dressing himself, posture control, and even communicating with others. 

My name is Firas, and I’m ABCD’s deputy chair and project manager. I also work as the clinical education lead for the National Spinal Injury Centre in Buckinghamshire.

ABCD have six centres across Palestine and the West Bank, where we provide incredible, world-class therapies and treatments which transform the lives of children with disabilities. The support provided is amazing, because it helps give children who once faced neglect and isolation the safe, fun childhood they deserve – like Nidal. 

When our therapists first met Nidal, aged four, he was restless, overactive and disruptive. He struggled to speak or form sentences, couldn’t concentrate and really struggled to be away from his mum without getting very upset. 

Then he arrived at our centre in Al-Amari.  Together, our team of physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and educational therapists carried out a full assessment, and Nidal was diagnosed as autistic with hyperactivity. Our team developed a special, personalised rehabilitation plan and over the next six months, Nidal received intensive therapy four times a week, three hours a day,

Nidal’s therapist told us how much he loved the sessions.

Nidal’s rehab plan was designed to stimulate his cognitive function, language skills and awareness. He regularly spent time in our calming sensory room, which stimulated his cognitive function through coordinated brain exercises. Nidal’s therapist told us how much he loved the sessions, which were interactive and playful, and he had lots of fun using the touchscreen to play games like putting fish in a basket, or cooking and eating fruit. 

Nidal’s life has changed forever

The results of Nidal’s therapy have been incredible. Today, he can now brush his teeth, wash his face and dress himself. We still see him a couple of times a week, and we’ll continue providing him with rehabilitation until he’s ready to join a mainstream school. We also taught his parents how to continue his rehab at home – they’ve told us it makes a huge difference and that they are so grateful. 

This is the true meaning of your donations – helping children like Nidal access life-changing therapy in extremely challenging circumstances. 

Without ABCD, Nidal would never have been able to access this kind of support. It has changed his life. His story shows how our rehab centres are a beacon of hope at a time when Palestinians face a harsh reality. They are so impactful for children with disabilities. 

This is the true meaning of your donations – helping children like Nidal access life-changing therapy in extremely challenging circumstances. 

This Christmas, please consider making a donation and help more children like Nidal take their first steps toward a brighter future.

Donate now