Khubaib Ahmad Khan, SEND Advocate, MKA Canada
In September 2023, Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Canada launched the Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) Department to create safe, inclusive spaces for khuddam and atfal with special needs, promote inclusivity throughout the Jamaat, and raise awareness through educational seminars and resources – thereby ensuring that inclusion isn’t an afterthought, but a priority.
The inaugural year (2023-2024) has truly been a remarkable journey. Our first major initiative was to create and maintain an active database. We set out on the important task of compiling a list of all khuddam and atfal with special needs across Canada. We recorded all the information carefully in our database – which is kept secure and confidential so that only our executive SEND volunteers can access it. The database continues to be a work in progress as we continuously update and improve it, making sure we capture as many details as possible about our SEND members to better serve them.
The next major step we took was the completion of 100% of our initial home visits and phone calls. By November-December 2023, we had successfully reached out to every SEND khadim and tifl in our database, either through home visits or phone calls. This initial outreach was very critical for us, as it allowed us to build trust and understanding between families and our department.
The next significant task we accomplished was the development of Talimi and Tarbiyati Resources for SEND Members. In this process, we recorded training videos at MTA Canada Studios, thanks to the assistance of two dedicated volunteers. Additionally, we created and published an introductory PowerPoint presentation about the SEND Department on khuddam.ca. We also focused on developing resources to guide SEND khuddam and atfal in reading books and the Holy Quran. Some of the materials produced included the Five Pillars of Islam, MKAC SEND Arabic Letter Flashcards, MKAC SEND Learning Guide and Introduction to Islamic Studies. These resources are readily available digitally and have already been shared with several families, accessible via khuddam.ca.
Following this came the online Regional Seminars to promote awareness and education within all regional and local jamaats. In December 2023 and January 2024, the SEND Department organised online regional training seminars and workshops across Canada. These sessions were designed to introduce the department, educate Jamaat members, share the resources we created with the regional jamaats and raise awareness about the importance of inclusivity and support for khuddam with special needs and disabilities.
Our first major event was MKA Canada Jalsa Khilafat 2024. For this, we offered an online live stream for SEND members, complete with live closed captions and descriptive audio, ensuring accessibility for those who couldn’t attend in person. Additionally, we reserved dedicated space for SEND attendees at the event.
Our next major event was the Jalsa Salana Canada 2024, which we had been preparing for months in advance. To ensure a comfortable and engaging environment for our SEND members, we provided colouring books, pencils, colourful play mats and various sensory toys, books and puzzles. Special arrangements for refreshments were made separate from the main food marquee to ensure the safety and comfort of our SEND members.
Our final major event of 2024 was the MKA Canada Ijtema. We secured an even bigger stall for SEND. We brought back the same thoughtful provisions from jalsa, ensuring a welcoming space for everyone. However, the real highlight of the ijtema was when our SEND members got to enjoy a special edition of the “Sawab Journey” Monopoly game, created by Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK. It was a wonderful and fun way for them to learn about general facts about Islam Ahmadiyyat. Our journey is far from over. Reflecting on our initial goals, some remain incomplete, and new ideas have emerged as we’ve grown. Our vision for the coming year is to build on our foundation and take SEND’s mission to even greater heights, insha-Allah.