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Open minds
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OpenMinds is an NGO created by concerned individuals in 2012 to assist people with special needs
We believe that concerted action is essential at all levels of society to empower special children to become productive and contributing members of the community. This action is vital not only within the ASKC but also across nurseries, schools, universities, and workplaces. By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, OpenMinds aims to promote the well-being and healthy diversity of the community while addressing the unique needs of special children and young adults.
OUR ACTIONS ARE GUIDED BY COMPASSION
WE MOVE MOUNTAINS
At OpenMinds we value the uniqueness and extreme worth of the AUBMC Special Kids Clinic (ASKC) to our community, and have embarked on a mission to enhance its services making them accessible to many, in order to propagate its value and benefits further into our society. We are concerned with the overwhelming prevalence of special needs amongst children and young adults today, and are troubled by this growing trend.
Our Impact
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Over
$3.5 MILLION
Spent on supporting essential therapies for vulnerable children with special needs
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Over
$1.36 MILLION
Invested in supporting research in neurodevelopmental disorders
Over
$2.5 MILLION
Spent on raising awareness and promoting integration at all levels
Over
125,000
Therapies provided through our CarePlan program, including tests and consultations
Over
850
Scholarships awarded to special needs students across Lebanon.
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What we are Doing
OpenMinds has encouraged and empowered several schools and educational institutions to create, expand, and enhance such programs by rehabilitating and equipping spaces dedicated for that purpose. By paving the way and enabling more programs to exist, we aim to encourage the growth of such settings within Lebanon and the ability to accommodate more and more individuals with special needs. -
where we are headed
At OpenMinds we believe that one of the greatest challenges adolescents and young adults with special needs face is becoming financially independent individuals and integrating into the workforce as productive members of society. To that effect, OpenMinds has collaborated with Step Together since 2017 in successfully training adults to become inclusive members of society through the "I Can Work" and "I Can be Productive" Programs. The programs are designed to integrate students with learning difficulties in the workplace within the community. Seeking employment as an adult with special needs is a daunting challenge. For the 7th consecutive year, the programs, developed by Step Together Association and funded by OpenMinds have managed to integrate students with special needs in actual workplaces, under the supervision of a personal coach and coordinator. OpenMinds will continue to collaborate with other institutions to ensure that young adults with special needs get integrated into society.
Our most ambitious project will be the creation of a model, porous community in which those with special needs can live, learn, and integrate with volunteers and members of society, building the first incubator of true integration. OpenMinds board members envision such a community to be a beacon of model citizenship, adding great value in terms of goods and services provided to its neighboring community.
Our Philosophy
Mission
- To empower and enrich the lives of special needs children, young adults, and their families through comprehensive support and integration, enabling them to achieve their full potential.
Vision
- Our vision is a world where every special needs child and young adult thrive reaching their full potential and where society embraces and values their unique abilities.