Language Teaching for Specific Purposes: A Case Study of the Degree of Accuracy in Describing the Character of Mental Disabilities in Modern Arabic Drama (Egyptian Film Toot-Toot as an Example)

The study aims at investigating the degree of accuracy in describing the character of mental disabilities in modern Arabic drama. The study takes the Egyptian Film Toot-Toot as an example. Toot -Toot is a film about a mentally handicapped heroine, “Kareema”, who was sexually abused by a wealthy man, and she was also socially harassed by the people of her community. The study tries to prove that there is an accurate stereotypical representation of the mentally up-normal characters in Arabic n drama and cinema. To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive analytical approach was adopted. The sincerity and consistency of the study tool were confirmed the study summarized the film into eight scenes, then they were analyzed and discussed in light of the degree of accuracy of the general characteristics of mental disabilities which include the following: cognitive, physical, linguistic, the social and psychological characteristics. Also, the role of social institutions towards the mentally disabled is discussed. The results revealed that the purpose is to make the audience to be sympathized rather than empathized by the dramatic representation of the disabled character for the sake of increasing the cash revenue of the film. To sum up, the mentally- handicapped characters were misrepresented; they were so far from the scientific and medical diagnosis.

Intestinal parasitic infection among mentally handicapped students in Hamadan, western Islamic Republic of Iran

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common public health problems in populations with poor hygiene. Consequently, mental retardation increases the risk of infection. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among mentally disabled children in Hamadan, western Islamic Republic of Iran. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 318 students in 9 special schools in 2017. Triplicate faecal specimens for each student were subjected to stool analysis using direct wet mount, sedimentation concentration, and permanent staining technique. Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 318 students, 135 (42.5%, 95% CI: 37.1–47.9) were infected with intestinal parasites. Prevalence rates for females and males were 45.2% (61/135) and 40.4% (74/183) respectively. Protozoan infections (42.5%, 135) were more numerous than helminthiasis (0.6%, 2). Blastocystis hominis (28%, 89) was the most common parasite, followed by Giardia lamblia (9.7%, 31), Entamoeba coli (9.1%, 29) and Trichomonas hominis (6%, 19). Conclusions: The high prevalence rate of intestinal protozoan infection reflects poor personal hygiene among the students and inappropriate environmental conditions. Therefore, specific public health measures are required for the mentally handicapped students in special schools.

The Trial of Wilhelm Doering: “Public Interest” and Shooting of Mentally Handicapped Children in Shumyachi

In May 1961, the German law enforcement agencies detained Wilhelm Doering, the commander of one of the mobile squads of Einzatzkommando. The perpetrator was charged with the organization of the slaughter of the Jewish population in a number of settlements in Belarus and Russia, as well as the slaughter of mentally handicapped children in the village of Shumyachi (Smolensk region). Following two trials (1962—1964) W. Doering was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment. The former Nazi managed to avoid responsibility for organizing the slaughter of 16 disabled children living in the Shumyachian boarding house. The Court qualified the offence under consideration as a “second-degree murder”, under which the statute of limitations had expired. In fact, the German judiciary laid the blame for the slaughter of children on the Soviet authorities that “left the children in a helpless state” and the Nazi criminals were characterized as guardians of “public interest” who, by killing children, saved the Russian population and German servicemen from the epidemic. The court verdict never mentioned that, in the Third Reich, the slaughter of mentally ill children was common practice; the crime in Shumyachi was taken out of general context of Nazi atrocities related to the implementation of the “child euthanasia programs.” The verdict handed down to W. Doering was a fact of blatant injustice and trampling upon the memory of thousands of children victims of Nazism.

Neumann, Alfred M.

Alfred M. Neumann (1910–2002) dedicated his life to uplifting humanity. He was recognized for pioneering the concept of sheltered workshops for the rehabilitation of social and emotionally mentally handicapped individuals.

Effectiveness of cognitive play in developing the self-confidence of the mentally handicapped who are able to learn during COVID-19 pandemic

The study aimed to identify the effectiveness of cognitive play in developing the self-confidence of the mentally handicapped who are able to learn, and verify the effectiveness of the program, and the study sample consisted of (20) children with intellectual disabilities who are able to learn who are inIntellectual Education. The study sample was divided into two groups.The experimental group(10)children, and the control group (10) children, of the mentally handicapped children who are able to learn, their ages ranged between (9-12), and their IQs ranged between (50-70), and the researcher used in the study the quasi-experimental approach The researcher applied the following tools to the study sample: the Stanford Binet Scale (5thimage), citation and preparation. The self-confidence scale, andthe existing training program.On the cognitive play used in the current research, the researcher numbers, and the results of the study revealed.There are statistically significant differences between the average scores of children in the post-measurement on the scale of self-confidence.There are statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the control group and the experimental group on the self-confidence scale in the post-measurement in favor of the experimental group .Predicting the effectiveness of the training program based on cognitive play in developing self-confidence in mentally handicapped children who are able to learnduring COVID-19 pandemic.