Special child...yum yum Must be rich ;-(

Strom
By Strom

"wow....u got a job in Qatar...that’s awesome ..Now our daughter have better future there....I have heard Qatar is doing great in education field...and special kids are really treated well there and they have quite many institutes there" My first reaction when my husband told me he got a job in Qatar...

With quite many dreams for our daughter's better education (especially when she is special) I packed it in our luggage and head to Qatar....

"Hello is this, special need centre, my daughter is autistic .... Ok sure I’ll come tomorrow…”
With three institutes in a row, we visited and facility wise all of them are ok ( I won’t grade them bad but I was expecting something really good) , so we thought it’s okay she has to go to school we should select one of them…..

After asking about monthly fees I felt I was struck by lightning, 4000QR/month only +assessment fee (one time) +registration fee+ stationary +++++ list was non ending ……
Another school it was 5000 QR, another school, they say preference will be given to locals (in other words no chance).
All schools I have visited either they are Arabic, or expensive or getting admission is so impossible.
After that day I felt how helpless I am…..if I have a normal child I would have definitely chosen a school which is well within my reach and never have to be worried.
I have a question is it necessary if you have a special child you must be filthy rich, or works in QP where your child education is sponsored, and In other words I don’t have any idea what I can do. I am working with her as she is really smart and high functioning autistic.
Now most of you must bash me why I came to Qatar on the first place or I should have researched the web first for her schools…..the answer is I have, I made calls I searched net, but not a single institute have wrote their fees ( special need centre) .
It’s just I felt …… it’s not necessary if your child is special or differently able you are rich.

By anonymous• 31 Mar 2012 09:25
anonymous

I wish you all the best, and my all prayer for your all efforts.

By Strom• 31 Mar 2012 00:59
Strom

Master UBC.....i dream of tht day....when i turn back and say "he was rite" :-) .....

I am already working on those lines u mentioned, and to tell u honestly i dream she should be a gymnast...she is so good in balancing herself on bars....just one right oulet ( sigh)......

I am sure the schools are charging so much only because they have to make both ends meet as well....they have to pay the trained faculty and all.....but its too much not everyone can afford...I m already saying my husband is not getting less but we cant afford it still.....and i believe there are many...who are not poor but also cant afford....

i have found elegance here..will search more special moms here and try to help eachother

By anonymous• 30 Mar 2012 15:18
anonymous

do you know who created Facebook? that guy is genius he got admission in Harvard university, what else one could ever wish for, rite? thats a first thought came into our head, but see the point, an idea clicked him and he focused just on it nothing else is then important to him and he even dropped what millions dream for, and see where he is now a youngest billionaire of this century, thats what im saying now think and search on her if u get my point, its like see observe by doing some activities that what is she smart at, that a click which needs to be figureout by you its in her but u need to point it out, and then just focused on, and am sure u will see the result, and yes ur correct she need social life as well but i am no so sure about it, dear u know they are special so needs to be treated like a special one, not like us we got stuck in daily chaos and other stress full life things we are no not normal to even focus u see my point, thats why we life normal life but she is blessed with something that you need to foindout and believe me or not it will work, i wish i could be of any help but i am sure one day you will Smile and say, "that guy was rite". wish you all the best, and about this schooling issue i believe they must have some reasons for charging so much, we must not see one side of the picture, goodluck with your search i am sure u will find one soon.

By Elegance• 29 Mar 2012 23:58
Elegance

Mr.Griffin,

Could you please leave it in peace? OK, Everyone got your point..

By anonymous• 29 Mar 2012 23:09
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

It's not a service it's here to bleed you dry because you have no other choice. The welfare of your child is secondary to these people fleecing you for every penny they can.

By JasonGUK• 29 Mar 2012 22:08
JasonGUK

its just not the best thing to be putting up special kids yum yum

By Strom• 29 Mar 2012 19:36
Strom

master UBC... I am teaching her at home...and search net and find her activities and do a lot of thinking on the lines u just mentioned.....but as u know social circle is necessary

No merci thanx ..atleast we know..ppl do care and share....

By 2020 Olympics• 29 Mar 2012 19:16
Rating: 5/5
2020 Olympics

Qatar is expensive and is not place for poor families. This is done purposefully to keep burden on the nation low.

Someone of 15k a month has no business bringing children here. Impossible to provide for them adequately here.

By nomerci• 29 Mar 2012 16:43
nomerci

Elegance, maybe if you explain your situation to them, they might have other options available for you? And maybe even useful information?

Look, I really do not know...just trying to come up with options...be assured, there are many people who care.

Sorry I can't help more.

By Elegance• 29 Mar 2012 16:27
Elegance

Yes..The coffee morning in Landmark. I cannot possibly carry my child and go to LandMark from Najma on my own..:-( I wish to go soon somehow..Joined the group last week.

By nomerci• 29 Mar 2012 16:23
Rating: 5/5
nomerci

Elegance and Strom, I'd suggest you post your situation and queries on www.expatwoman.com the Qatar sector. I recall having seen information regarding Autism and special needs on there.

Wish you the best of Luck!!

Oh, and I just remembered something else, there is a group called "Doha mums" here in Qatar, you might want to google that, as they might be able to help.

By Elegance• 29 Mar 2012 16:13
Rating: 5/5
Elegance

Strom,

I am encouraged by your words. In 2 or 3 weeks time I hope to get a maid(another serious issue.. :-) )

And I will be free enough to take care of these issues in a better way with someone to help me along. An extra pair of hands surely mean a lot to me.

A speech therapist, physiotherapist, Occupational therapist,special education teacher- It is ideal to have all these experts to help us. But usually the mother gets all rolled into one... :-(

Anybody out there with a special need child, or anyone qualified to do these jobs out there, please post...

By anonymous• 29 Mar 2012 15:23
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

hi how are you, hope good, i have a suggestion, i dont know am not an experienced one, but if i will have one i will do this,

So just sharing a thought, your child is special do realize this fact, she is not like every one she is unique, a level higher then us, so do a little research on her, find out what she is smart at, what interest her, and do remember, there is no best teacher then a mother, be role model for her, once you find out what interests her, provide everything to excel her that ability, and remember she IS special, am 100% sure she will do something very special in life.

By Strom• 29 Mar 2012 15:19
Rating: 5/5
Strom

elegance, back in my home town ...my daughter never spoke a word until she was 7 , once she was in school and u cant imagine how fast she learned....then i realised how important peers are......

my daughter is very sporty...she likes playing...swimming and going out....but at the same time she likes studying...she reads books in english and my local language....i am doing best i can to facilitate her...taking her out daily....but we cannot fulfill the school need tht 8 to 2 routine.....

its not tht my husband is paid very less....but we cant afford 5000+ /month....

Hope fully we find some solution

By Mandilulur• 29 Mar 2012 15:16
Rating: 4/5
Mandilulur

Thank you, Strom, for highlighting an important issue in Qatar. Quite a few American employers are telling prospective employees NOT to come if their child is special needs. It's very sad, isn't it?

Mandi

By Elegance• 29 Mar 2012 15:03
Rating: 5/5
Elegance

OH!OH!OH!

I am late..Hi everyone, especially Strom.. I am with you my dear special mother, Because I am blessed with a sweet daughter who is 6 years. Her IQ is good. Her problem is with walking, talking and eating. As age goes forward,I am finding it tough to go on as the sole caretaker of her and the rest of the family.

Handling life is not easy even otherwise with a hubby with a hectic schedule and a teenage daughter with occassional tantrums.

I very badly want to send her to a school but do not want to entrust her to strangers who merely do it for money. I do not want to "escape" her or the homebound situation of ours. Just praying hard that a self help group will materialise soon.

Strom, You might think I am different from you. No. Though our children has two different conditions, we belong under the same umbrella of special mothers like those other thousands in the world.

Folks who were kind enough to respond, please tell us where all those special needs kids are..Help us to form a group.

Thanks from my heart.

By Strom• 29 Mar 2012 14:59
Strom

Jason i guess u missed the point ;-)....but its okay....

it only suggest thts how most institutes pounce on you for money thing....

By MarcoNandoz-01• 29 Mar 2012 14:23
MarcoNandoz-01

It's gonna be alright (-:

By JasonGUK• 29 Mar 2012 14:19
Rating: 2/5
JasonGUK

changing the title from special child yum yum

By Formatted Soul• 29 Mar 2012 13:48
Formatted Soul

Ohhh thats sad..:( write a detailed letter to H.H Sheika Mooza... maybe you will get a solution..all the best..:)

http://www.mozabintnasser.qa/contactus/Pages/default.aspx/

By Strom• 29 Mar 2012 13:39
Strom

thanx formatted soul for such a concern....but they dont take autistic kids :-(

By Formatted Soul• 29 Mar 2012 13:35
Rating: 4/5
Formatted Soul

sorry to hear your problem..

Did you try in HOPE? its a non profit organization..

http://www.hope-qatar.org/About_us.htm

HOPE Qatar, P.O.Box 47243, Doha, Qatar.

Tel: +974 700HOPE (7004673) Fax: +974 4368821 E-Mail (click here)

By Strom• 29 Mar 2012 13:24
Strom

thanx tinker I'll definitely mail tht group...if they r not gonna charge me for coffee;-)

the main issue is my daughter is in habit of going school... now she sees other kids going to school she asks questions wen she will be admitted to school.....then its difficult ...to answer her

By Strom• 29 Mar 2012 13:08
Strom

@t -coffee....yup my first call was to them. and their reply was we only take arbic speaking...no english.. Ill call u wen we have started english ....end of story...

By t_coffee_or_me• 29 Mar 2012 13:05
t_coffee_or_me

http://www.shafallah.org.qa/cms/english/default.aspx

By Strom• 29 Mar 2012 13:05
Strom

Taurus ... My husband is not working in QP or QF..plea for what ??? employer contract says education of kid are not supported.

@brit Expat told ya earlier dont bash for not doing research :-)... I have done a research ...i found schools and when i saw their normal /main stream schools fee i assume special need will be equal to it....as special need centre have not mention fees on their websites

By Strom• 29 Mar 2012 12:58
Rating: 4/5
Strom

i guess going back is not an option.... one daughter i have ..who is autistic....12 years and she is lonely...she miss her dad...we lived without him for a year...but its also tough....

standup and fight i believe....

Churrken i believe indian schools are much much reasonable....:-)

By britexpat• 29 Mar 2012 12:57
Rating: 5/5
britexpat

This is one of the pitfalls of not doing some research before moving. Sadly, many developing nations still do not provide "special needs" schooling facilities. When they do, they are expensive.

I have a good friend in Saudi who went through the same headache. The best and cheapest facility was provided by the Indian Embassy School in Riyadh :o)

By taurusM• 29 Mar 2012 12:56
Rating: 2/5
taurusM

very sorry to hear. Just reminds me not to take anything for granted. Maybe you could do a plea to your husbands' employer for your special child. You could start with a well written letter to the employer explaining your predicament.

By JMan_12• 29 Mar 2012 12:50
JMan_12

Sorry to hear that. Is it realistic to go back?

By cherukkan• 29 Mar 2012 12:50
Rating: 5/5
cherukkan

I feel really sorry to you. I understand your concern about your daughter and the way things are working in Qatar. Rich are always welcomed every where. I know a friend of mine who has got five kids. He is getting almost Qr. 15000 but his family in India. His wife is always fighting with him to bring them to Qatar. He is hesitating because he is well aware of the expenses especially education.

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