Discovering Disabilities in Dearborn

Kassem joins us to talk about his wonderful sister, Mariam. Mariam was diagnosed with down syndrome but this did not limit her love for life and curiosity about the world. Tune in to hear about Kassem growing up with her, how it shaped his life, and how becoming her caretaker helped them form his perspective on the world.

Support Kassem's businesses:

Lavish Wedding & Event Rentals

Demo Days

Contact him at (313) 409-1059

https://www.instagram.com/demo_days/

https://www.instagram.com/lavish.event.rentals/

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We are returning from our hiatus with an episode about a great community organization, Creative Needs. With chapters now at several colleges in Michigan, we sat down with the University of Michigan members to learn more about what they are doing to help children with disabilities. They work with children with cognitive and intellectual disabilities to help stimulate their creativity, learn new skills, and find their passions. Watch the episode so learn more about their various events and initiatives and how to support them.

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Our latest episode is one of our most inspiring ones yet. We sat down with Asad, a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. Having been diagnosed late in his life with autism, Asad had to grow up learning various coping mechanisms for his daily life, never knowing why certain things that society tried to push onto him as "the norm" didn't feel right. Listen to his inspiring journey and the you'll be sure to learn something new.

You can contact him on his Instagram @siddoss.

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For the next episode, we get to sit down with one of DREAM's ver own members, Rawan Darouiche. Learn more about her job as a social worker, the impact it has on students, and the field itself. Rawan has been a long time advocate for Arab representation in the field of social work so that our community can be better served and get the resources it needs. We also get to hear some inside stories and facts about DREAM!

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Welcome back to season three of Discovering Disabilities in Dearborn. We are starting with one of our most interesting conversations this season - Khodr Farhat. He is a community activist and politician in Dearborn, always rooting himself in his faith and advocating for those who need it most. This inspiring talk coves his dedication to being a public servant and how to maintain a positive mindset and overcome challenges.

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After an exciting season, tune in for our season 2 finale with Mike Esseily, Director of Special Education at Dearborn Public Schools. With back to school season starting, we sat down with Mike to learn more about the special education initiatives in the school system. He gives us insights on the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure the best resources for all students and creating equal opportunities for everyone. From board certified behavior specialists, a special education PTA, to social workers for all students, DPS places a huge emphasis on the special education department and the importance of advocating for these individuals.

DPS Social & Emotional Hotline - 

313-827-8500 or [email protected]

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We had the pleasure of sitting down with Hind Omar, an aspiring lawyer and strong advocate for people with disabilities. Hind is legally blind and has grown up with various experiences navigating her disability, from receiving too many accommodations to having to prove herself and worth so she can be considered an equal. We learn more about her accommodation experiences, being an advocate for yourself, and how to better treat people with disabilities.

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In our next episode we talked with Aimee and Christina from Services to Enhance Potential, also known as STEP. STEP is a non-profit organizations with various programs and initiatives to serve the disabilities community in the larger Southeast Michigan area and focus on helping people with disabilities gain employment and achieve satisfaction with their work. Aimee and Christina oversee a number of programs within STEP and have helped countless individuals during their time with the organization, watch or listen to the episode to learn more about all the work they do and the resources available.

For more information, to get involved with, or any questions about STEP, you can contact Aimee at [email protected].

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To kick off the rest of Season 2, we had the chance to talk with Ali Alabbas. Ali owns a media production company, Insight Media Productions and is a member of the non-profit organization, Talk To Muslims, which focuses on providing support to the local Muslim community and empowering individuals to develop their skills and passions.

For the mid-season finale, we sat down with Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud to discuss what work is being done at the city-level for individuals with disabilities and what we can expect to see in the coming years. Mayor Hammoud comes from a public health background and has worked extensively to advocate for Dearborn and ensure everyone has the resources and accommodations they need to succeed. Listen in to hear our conversation on upcoming changes in the city and the work being done to provide individuals with disabilities more accommodations.

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