Silent No More

Disability knows no boundaries of ethnicity, religion, gender, or social background. Silent No More highlights the many developments that have taken place, especially during the past decade, in social perceptions of disability and disabled persons in Egypt and in the services that enhance their quality of life. The survey begins with a short overview of Egypt's prominent role in providing medical care for the disabled from the Middle Ages to the present, and looks at how Egypt has today become the front runner in the Arab world in developing educational programs, services, and support for the mentally and physically disabled. Drawing on extensive interviews, Lesley Lababidi charts the changes of the present era by letting the disabled and their families, teachers and therapists, directors of government schools, and leaders in nongovernmental organizations speak for themselves. Their stories tell alternately of frustration, commitment, anger, progress, and courage. Most importantly, each person has a message that speaks to the future and the challenges that face Egyptians.