COMMUNITY MATTERS
Muslims for Support to Special Needs Persons Dallas-based scholar Sheikh Omar Suleiman formally launched MUHSEN (Muslims United for Handicap and Special Education Needs; http://muhsen.org/), an organization serving people with special needs, at the 51st ISNA Convention in Detroit. The organization advocates, educates, trains and implements programs and services nationwide to improve access to mosques for special needs individuals, and promotes acceptance and inclusion by the community in all aspects of their daily lives. Suleiman, who addressed a session at the convention on creating enabling mosques,
noted that mosques lack facilities to properly accommodate people with special needs. MUHSEN Executive Director Joohi Tahir, the mother of an autistic daughter and a vice president at Crescent Foods, said the
Canadian Muslim Physician at International Space Studies Program Dr. Farhan Asrar, a prominent Canadian physician who served as faculty member at this year’s annual international Space Studies Program, led an international team to provide recommendations on health and space. The conference, hosted by the Canadian Space Agency, brought together international space experts, along with participants from more than 30 different countries. The program, organized by the nonprofit Strasbourg, France-based International Space
Dr. Farhan Asrar, right, with Canadian astronaut Dr. David Saint-Jacques at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters John H. Chapman Space Centre in Quebec.
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University, is sponsored by organizations such as NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, European Space Agency, and space agencies and government organizations of several other countries. The intensive, nine-week annual program has been hosted by more than a dozen countries in four continents since its inception in 1988. Countries must bid to host it. During the 2011 program in Graz, Austria, Asrar was appointed in a faculty teaching role as deputy/emerging chairman of the Department of Space Life Sciences and Space Medicine. He was then selected as chairman of health and space for the 2014 program, in which he led a 30-member team consisting members from 14 countries to research and work on a report that provided recommendations for using space technology in assisting with public health and disaster relief. The project, officially sponsored by NASA, was supported by several world renowned space medicine experts and astronauts. Asrar, a recipient of several local, provincial, national and international awards, has a keen interest in space and space medicine. He and his team presented their findings at the International Astronautical Congress Conference — the world’s largest space-based conference held in Toronto, September-October. The Space Studies Program provides global postgraduate and professional participants a unique opportunity to interact and work with space experts and enthusiasts from around the world. There are also many
organization will “work to lead in creating a better understanding of disabilities in our communities and building a better future for individuals with special needs — where they are welcome, all their needs are addressed and they are accepted by all.” “Individuals with disabilities are growing in numbers, and we are in denial if we believe that it does not affect us. Childhood disorders and illnesses are at an all-time high affecting millions, Muslims included.” She added that MUHSEN plans to develop programs to train youth to become peer buddies, develop closed captioning displays for the hearing impaired and “quiet” rooms for sensory issues, and provide counseling and support groups by trained professionals.
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scholarship opportunities available for professionals and university students to pursue this program. The 2015 program will be held in Ohio, home of several astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and John Glenn.
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Maryland Student Joins University Regents Board
Raaheela Ahmed (Courtesy of Raaheela Ahmed)
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley appointed Raaheela Ahmed to serve a one-year term as the student member on the 17-member University System of Maryland Board of Regents. The board oversees the university system’s academic, administrative and financial operations, formulates policy, and appoints the chancellor and the presidents of the system’s 12 institutions. Ahmed, 21, who attends the University of Maryland in College Park, is majoring in finance and economics.
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ISLAMIC HORIZONS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014