Celebrating Our Voices & Growing Together

We are honored to share a powerful blog written by our very own facilitator Rima Muhsen from our recent self-care event for parents, held on December 3rd in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities—a day observed globally to promote understanding, dignity, and inclusion for people living with disabilities.

In her article, “From the White Knight Syndrome to Empathy, Realistic Hope, and Sustainable Care,” Siste Rima beautifully reflects on the experiences shared by our parents during the workshop and highlights the importance of self-care, empathy, and emotional well-being for caregivers. Many of our community’s testimonies, of growth, strength, heartfelt insight, and the journey toward self-care, are featured and resonate deeply with readers far beyond our circle.

Alhamdulillah, our words and stories are now being shared with so many, inspiring others and bringing visibility to the lived experiences of families navigating disability with courage and love. JazakAllahu khairan to our facilitator for lifting up our voices with such compassion and clarity.

We are excited to announce that she will be offering weekly self-care sessions beginning in January, designed to continue this vital work of support, connection, and empowerment. We look forward to your participation in these future sessions and to growing together as a community.

Click here to register for our upcoming Mental Health Webinar series!

AMAANA East asks parents to fill out the form below in order to plan for the needs of children/young adults who will be benefiting from AMAANA East weekend Islamic school, and other AMAANA East programs, and activities as we expand our services to the East Bank of Jefferson Parish

Click below to complete the East Bank Parents Interest Form to share your needs and preferences.

The success of all our programs at AMAANA depends on our trained and caring volunteers. For anyone interested in becoming a volunteer for AMAANA East, please click below to complete the Volunteer Interest Form:

Something BIG is in the works — But we need your feedback

These support workers can offer tailored care that respects and aligns with the community’s values, practices, and traditions. Their understanding of Islamic practices, cultural norms, and Arabic (or other prevalent languages) helps to create a comfortable, respectful, and effective environment for individuals. This cultural competency fosters trust, promotes better communication, and ensures that care and services are sensitive to the spiritual, dietary, and social needs of the person, ultimately leading to a higher quality of life and well-being.

AMAANA aims to always serve the unique needs of our local community — a major one being respite care. Having direct support workers with religious, cultural, and language competency is crucial for individuals with disabilities within the Muslim community.

Click HERE to take our survey if you, or someone you know, are in need of receiving supportive services for children and young adults with special needs from highly-qualified and highly-trained Direct Support workers