We are in the throes of transformation and conflicts yet to be resolved.  These will affect all our lives in Lebanon and the region, particularly services to families in need.  The prevalence of special needs is 1/10 children in ordinary times.  During times of conflict and unrest, this figure becomes 1 in 5 children!  The new number of families with one or more children with special needs assisted by OpenMinds packages in 2019 is 75. To date, this number is now 415, with many waiting in the wings.

In 2019:

Today, the likelihood of a child being diagnosed with any form of a neurodevelopmental condition is 1 in 65. These special individuals end up having to cope with a systematic lack of provision of rights, resources, and services. They face exclusion at all levels of their daily lives and find themselves struggling to defend their basic rights. Their right to normalcy becomes more and more evasive.