'Oman lacks diving instructors for differently abled children'

Date

8/29/2016 1:26:14 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

Aquatic therapy is considered an efficient way to treat children with autism and other mental and physical disabilities.

But, you need experts. There is an urgent need for specialised diving instructors to teach children with disabilities in Oman, said Tariq al Khaburi, founding member of Oman Disabled Divers Association, who uses aquatic therapy to train children with disabilities.

'Right now, we have only two divers who are specialised in helping children with special needs. And they too stay far away from Muscat – in Khasab,' said Khaburi. The lack of such diving teachers for physically and mentally challenged children hinders their treatment as use of water is considered one of the fastest and entertaining methods of therapy.

Khaburi added, 'We are in talks with experts from the International Association for Handicapped Drivers (IAHD) Holland to train people from Oman. We also have people here who are willing to go abroad and learn.' Najat al Busaidi, head of Occupational Therapy Services, Armed Forces Medical Services said, 'There is a need to train people in such therapeutic modalities because ever since the activities of disabled diving started in 2009, we have had few Omani instructors who organise such activities to sustain positive results.

'This type of treatment will enhance outcome if we have more instructors. We hope qualified disabled diving instructors who come here for special events would select serious Omanis to train them that would sustain this type of activities at national level.'

Recently, 42 children with disabilities took part in a four-day diving event at the Marina Bandar al Rowdha. IAHD instructors conducted the annual event. Gerard Oijnhausen, managing director of IAHD said, 'We have offices around the world and we look forward to train people in diving to assist children with disabilities. To be an instructor one doesn't need to be a doctor but he or she must be a swimmer and patient.'

Nabeel al Lawati, who is a diver and a sociology professor at Sultan Qaboos University, said, 'I may go for a training course so that I can be a diving instructor for disabled children. 'It is sad that there are few divers to help these children. However, I appreciate the work being done by various associations in Oman.'

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