Living with a mental illness can make it tougher to deal with daily tasks or function at school or work. Fortunately, the UAE recognizes that people suffering from mental illnesses require assistance, and so they help and protect them with accordance to Federal Law no. 29 of 2006.
This law is the first in the UAE made to protect those with disabilities and aid them in achieving equality.
What the Law States
The law defines people with disabilities as those who suffer from a “mental, physical, sensory, cognitive, or behavioral condition which impairs one or more daily activities and adversely affects educational performance.” The law provides a set of rules and procedures to identify and aid those in need of special education and other services, including healthcare, employment, protection, support, and rehabilitation.
Special Education
Mental illnesses can have a mild to severe impact on academic performance. Depression results in a loss of motivation, focus and concentration, along with fatigue and sleep issues that may hinder the ability to perform at full potential. Anxiety can cause a person to “freeze over” in such a way that they are unable to think or respond in the moment, as they are possibly being overwhelmed by heart palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, shakiness, nausea, and more. ADHD inherently makes it harder for an individual to keep focusing on what is being taught.
Seeing how mental illness can affect students to such lengths, the law recognizes emotional and behavioral disorders as categories of disabilities that qualify students for special education programs and services if proven that the conditions affect them adversely. Eligibility is determined through a procedure that starts with a prereferral student support team, followed by a referral, evaluation, and eligibility determination. Next, a personalized learning plan and modifications are set and then implemented. The performance of the student is monitored and evaluated throughout the year in order to assess whether the plans should be altered or modified. At the end of the year, a certificate is given along with their grades to indicate the disability and services they received to aid them.