What you’re funding
Join us in supporting our local special needs community!
This fundraiser aims to raise awareness and vital funds for the 501c3 nonprofit, Dar-us-Sakina. Dar-us-Sakina provides inclusive opportunities and support to individuals with disabilities and their caregivers in the Muslim community of Houston. Through its programs and services, Dar-us-Sakina is changing countless lives!
Dar-us-Sakina brings about this incredible change via its three service areas: education, support, and community awareness.
EDUCATION: weekly programs for individuals with special needs provide Islamic education, life and independent skills training, and a means to regularly engage and be included in the community.
SUPPORT: caregiver training, opportunities for socialization, and support through times of crisis are just a few of the ways Dar-us-Sakina assists special needs families through their challenging journey.
COMMUNITY AWARENESS: through its volunteer programs and outreach efforts, Dar-us-Sakina is training community members on how to engage and include individuals with disabilities in a manner that is causing lasting impact.
Why should you support Dar-us-Sakina?
Dar-us-Sakina is the only local organization specifically addressing the needs of local Muslim community members with special needs. Dar-us-Sakina currently serves over 450 families with special needs and operates in masaajid all over Houston through its robust volunteer programs, Your donation will allow Dar-us-Sakina to further expand and develop its services, creating hope and opportunity for your brothers and sisters with special needs.
For more information, please visit dushouston.org!
Got a question — or an idea — for the team?
Send a note and we’ll pass it along to Dar Us Sakina.
About Dar Us Sakina
Dar Us Sakina gives Houston Muslim families something that can be hard to find elsewhere: support that fits both disability needs and faith life. It offers adapted Islamic education, caregiver support, and adult services for children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For donors, the draw is simple, this is practical care that shows up in classrooms, support groups, and everyday family life.
What sets Dar Us Sakina apart is how specifically it serves Houston’s Muslim special needs community. Its programming meets people where they are, from Sunday school and teen life-skills sessions to adult day services, caregiver training, and community awareness.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Dar-us-Sakina provides inclusive opportunities and resources to individuals with disabilities and their caregivers in the Muslim community of Houston.
Who they serve
Individuals with disabilities, especially children, teens, young adults, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with their caregivers and families in the Muslim community of Houston.
Their impact
- 581 special needs families registered
- 439 caregivers enrolled in support groups
- 108 special needs students enrolled in Islamic education
- 40,160 hours of volunteer service performed
- 2,482 community members trained in disability awareness
- Average of 30 families per family workshop session
- 25 students served in the weekly 2-hour Teen & Adult pilot program
How your donation helps
- Emergency respite care
- Counseling
- Necessary evaluations
- Advocacy support
- Durable medical equipment
- Supplies for education and social programs
- Furniture and supplies for the Adult Day Program
- Event space, photography, catering, and security for events
- Trained staff and therapeutic activities
- Life-skills training and sensory equipment
- Renovations and furnishings for the Adult Day Program
Programs
Sakina Sunday School
Adapted Islamic education for children ages 5 to 14, with self-contained and inclusion tracks covering Islamic studies, Quran, Arabic, wudu, and salah at multiple Houston-area locations.
Teen and Adult Program (TAP)
A weekly life-skills program for special needs individuals age 15 and up, with monthly themes such as cooking, physical fitness, art, social skills, kitchen skills, home management, and money management.
Adult Day Program
A structured weekday program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities focused on independence, socialization, daily living skills, vocational training, Islamic studies, self-care, and community participation.
Power Moms, Power Dads, and Power Sibs support groups
Peer support groups for caregivers and siblings of individuals with special needs to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.
Caregiver training and respite care
Monthly training opportunities for caregivers, including mental health workshops, parent advocacy seminars, and respite care during events.
Family events
Accessible, sensory-friendly community events for special needs families with accommodations, volunteer support, and opportunities for connection.
Zakat services
Crisis support for special needs Muslim families that can include emergency respite care, counseling, necessary evaluations, advocacy, and durable medical equipment.
Sakina Internship
A one-year internship for youth ages 18 and up who work one-on-one with students while receiving monthly training in fields such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, special education, ABA, and pediatrics.
Volunteer Enrichment Program
A two-year monthly commitment for students ages 13 to 17 who attend monthly events as peer buddies for special needs children and adults.
Youth inclusion training and community awareness
Training and workshops for Islamic schools, masajid, Scouts, and the wider community on disability awareness, inclusive etiquette, and early childhood intervention.
Stories
Need help?
Families can register for services through the website registration link or contact the relevant program emails for education, support, volunteering, or adult services. The organization serves individuals with disabilities and their caregivers in the Muslim community of the Greater Houston area.
Events
I Have a Dream Gala
annualAn annual gala used to support Dar-us-Sakina’s programs and services.
Family workshops
recurringExpert-led workshops that combine education, skill-building, and peer support for parents and caregivers.
Monthly community events
monthlyAccessible events for special needs families that include accommodations, volunteers, and opportunities for connection.
Ways to help
Current needs
- Sponsorship to finish renovations and furnish the Adult Day Program
- Volunteers for weekly Adult Day Program support
- BCBA, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and special education consulting
- Leaders for Art, Cooking, and Physical Education classes in the Adult Day Program
- Event space, photography, catering, and security support for events
Volunteer opportunities
- Sakina Internship for youth ages 18 and up
- Volunteer Enrichment Program for students ages 13 to 17
- General Volunteer roles for ages 12 and up at events and field trips
- One-on-one student support during events
- Weekly volunteer support for the Adult Day Program
- Monthly training or consulting support from BCBA, SLP, OT, and special education professionals