The Role of Rehabilitation Centers for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities in Community Integration from the Perspective of Employees in Northern Syria

The Role of Rehabilitation Centers for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities in Community Integration from the Perspective of Employees in Northern Syria

Abstract

The research aims to identify the role of rehabilitation centers for individuals with mobility disabilities in community integration from the perspective of employees in Northern Syria, and to perceive the challenges faced by these centers as seen by the sample individuals. The researchers embraced a descriptive analytical approach, and the research sample consisted of 55 male and female employees working for rehabilitation centers in Northern Syria, selected through purposeful sampling.

The researchers designed a questionnaire that included 25 items, and the main findings were:

• The role of rehabilitation centers for individuals with mobility disabilities in community integration was perceived at a moderate level by the employees in these centers.
• There were statistically significant differences at the significance level (0.05) between the average scores of the sample individuals based on the gender variable (male/female) in favor of the female.
• There were statistically significant differences at the significance level (0.05) concerning the type of service provided (psychological, rehabilitative, medical) in favor of those providing rehabilitative and psychological services.
• There were statistically significant differences at the significance level (0.05) based on years of experience (1-5 years, 6-10 years, 11 years or more) in favor of those with less experience.

Challenges Facing These Centers:

• The societal perception of individuals with mobility disabilities as a social burden, leading to their lack of acceptance in various fields, especially in severe disability cases.
• Limited availability of assistive technologies and compensatory devices for individuals with mobility disabilities, given the increasing numbers of this group due to conflict and natural disasters like earthquakes.
• A shortage of specialists in rehabilitation centers for individuals with mobility disabilities.
• A scarcity of rehabilitation centers for individuals with mobility disabilities.
• The absence of guidance programs for individuals with mobility disabilities and their families.
• Difficulty for individuals with mobility disabilities to access health and educational services due to environmental and social barriers in those institutions.

Key words: role, community integration, individuals with mobility disabilities, rehabilitation centers, norther of Syria.