Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration

Founded in 2009, the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration is a not-for-profit organization that helps families and individuals overcome the challenges that impact their family safety through culturally integrative services.

With a $209,000 Community Vitality Grant, MRCSSI will implement the Helping Arabic Newcomer families with Different Abilities to be Empowered (HAND2E) project, building on a pilot project supported by United Way Elgin Middlesex through the Emergency Community Support Fund and that will address the struggles experienced by families in accessing supports and services due to cultural and language barriers.

“So many families who come to Canada have children with disabilities, sometimes more than one,” says Sahar Atalla, Manager of Evidence Informed Programs at the MRCSSI. “These families mostly come from rural areas. They have language barriers. They don't know the system. In our cultural communities there is also some stigma around having children with disabilities, and this adds another layer to their isolation.”

Many of the families served by the HAND2E program are illiterate in their native language and know very little English, never having the opportunity to receive a formal education. Other families simply have not been able to complete the necessary paperwork to be eligible for services. Through the HAND2E program, parents will develop self-advocacy skills, learn how to navigate the support services system and be empowered to help other parents do the same – all while working with local service providers to develop culturally informed ways to better serve Arabic families.

“Through this project, we’re giving parents awareness and information about the available resources and helping them understand why there might be delays because of COVID-19 or waitlists,” says Sahar. “And while they wait, we provide them with parenting support groups, emotional support, and through our partners in the community, we were able to provide information sessions in their own language, which helped them a lot.”

By building a network of partners and connecting families with each other and the services they need, the MRCSSI is creating a future full of opportunity and potential for many families stranded in a system they did not have the tools to navigate.

“We hope that through our partnership in the community, we'll be able to work on developing programs and services that are culturally appropriate and relevant,” says Sahar. “Our hope for the future is to see these families well-integrated into the Canadian community and be a part of the fabric of the mosaic in London – to have some of the parents grow into leaders in the community and be able to act as a guide and advocate for other families who are struggling with getting appropriate services.”