Special needs students exhibit unique furnishing works

Participants — all with intellectual disabilities — design fabric for furniture as well as other functional pieces

KARACHI: On Wednesday evening, the Special Children’s Educational Institute (SCEI) held a unique exhibition of furnishings by students with special needs.

Participants — all with intellectual disabilities — designed fabric for furniture as well as other functional pieces for the home.

“The exhibition is about creating a platform and safe working space for children with intellectual disabilities,” Special Children’s Educational Institute founder Saima Haq told The Express Tribune.

December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities to promote awareness and mobilise support for critical issues relating to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development. And this is exactly what Haq did with the exhibition.



The children hand painted upholstery which was displayed at Karachi’s Grandeur café in Zamzama.

The institute has a long history of accessibility for people with disabilities. A non-government, non-profit trust, SCEI provides a platform for the optimal development of children and young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities from all socio-economic sectors of Pakistan.

https://twitter.com/SCEIpak/status/672350036139864064/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

“We are an institute for children with very low IQ and we teach them reading and writing skills till about the age of 13-14,” Haq explained.

After the children reach their academic plateau, they are given vocational training which involves being taught stenciling, colouring, block printing and other similar skills.

“We train them to do things which involve their hand because if you use your hands you are automatically cognitively engaged,” she said.

Haq said everybody seems to take disability as something ‘depressing’ and ‘misfortunate’ which is why they shy away from the topic. But in the hopes of shedding a positive light on it and appreciating the innocence and joy behind these children, Haq said she organises such exhibitions.



“The message behind this exhibition is that it’s the international day for disability and  we should try to appreciate these children for who they are,” she said.

The founder of the institute said people should try to perceive things from these childrens’ point of view rather than try to put so much emphasis on making them more communicative

“This exhibition is an example to show these children can do,” she concluded.