Ministry Launches Six-Week Programme to Support Parents of Children with Disabilities

The Ministry of Social and Family Development has launched a specialised support programme aimed at assisting parents of children with disabilities. 

Developed in collaboration with the non-governmental organisation Mums Aid, the initiative seeks to create a structured platform for parents to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange experiences, and navigate caregiving challenges.

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Central to the programme is a six-week support group designed to foster connections among parents. Participants will have the opportunity to share insights and offer mutual support. The group sessions will focus on effective parenting strategies, methods for overcoming challenges, and approaches to emotional and social reinforcement. The ministry emphasised that the initiative aims to alleviate feelings of isolation while providing parents with valuable resources.

Social and Family Development Minister Dr Aishath Shiham explained that the programme’s framework was developed based on direct engagement with parents of children with disabilities. Many of these conversations took place through the ministry’s ‘Haalu Kihineh?’ initiative and during visits to the Hiya Tower area in Hulhumalé, where parents frequently expressed the need for stronger support networks.

The ministry stated that insights gathered from these interactions highlighted the importance of creating structured opportunities for parents to connect and learn from one another. The programme is designed to cultivate a community where families feel supported and empowered, enabling them to share experiences and strategies in a collaborative environment.

The initiative will feature small group sessions, each comprising ten parents. Over the six-week period, 13 structured meetings will be held, with gatherings taking place twice a week. The ministry considers the programme a significant step in the government’s efforts to strengthen support systems for parents of children with disabilities.