Our vision is to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for people with unique abilities and their families through all phases of life. We strive to be a mosque where everyone knows they are accepted, celebrated, and embraced in God’s love.
Let us know how we can help you? help@mcceastbay.org
Alhamdulillah, since 2017, the MCC East Bay is proud to be the first masjid on the West Coast to be certified as special-needs friendly. In 2019, MCC East Bay became the first gold-certified masjid in California. We are working hard now to become the first platinum-certified masjid on the West Coast.
The MCC hosts the only special needs weekend Islamic School in the San Francisco Bay Area. The class has been at capacity since we began in 2017. We encourage special needs parents to join the waitlist and volunteer here. Registration for special needs students is similar to all other Sunday School students. Please see here for those details.
Weekend Special Needs Program Registration
Please follow the normal Sunday School registration process. When filling out the information for your child, please state Special Needs in the “Other Details” section: https://www.mccsundayschool.org/special-education
The MCC Sunday School program is currently at full capacity. But unlike the regular MCC Sunday School, we accept students during the school year if a seat opens up. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the Muslim Community Association (MCA Bay Area, West Valley Muslim Association (WVMA), and Tracy Islamic Center (TIC) also offer weekend special needs programs. Please complete this form for Muhsen to facilitate enrollment of your child in one of these programs: https://tinyurl.com/MUHSENSchool23
We are committed to supporting MUHSEN in their efforts to help families with Special Needs.
As a silver-certified masjid since 2017, we:
- Advertise special needs services on the masjid website and newsletter
- Host a Khutbah (Friday sermon) on disability at least once a year
- Host a disability awareness event at the masjid at least twice a year
- Provide restroom and wadu accessibility
- Have a dedicated special-needs facilitator for the masjid
- Have information about masjid programming accessible on the masjid website and social media
- (Via Muhsen) Have a needs assessment survey of the masjid community
- Provide wheelchair access through ramps and elevators throughout the facility
As a gold-certified masjid since 2019 means MCC:
- Provide a sign language interpreter for select lectures & Khutbahs (Friday sermons);
- Host a parent/caregiver support group;
- Host a sibling support group;
- Regularly schedule programs or events for our special needs families;
- Provide a Braille Qur’an available;
- Provide accessibility/designated room for families and special needs for the Eid prayers;
- Host a youth training event on disabilities, and;
- Provide specialized childcare at select masjid events.
MUHSEN (Muslims Understanding and Helping Special Education Needs) certifies masjids and Islamic Centers across the U.S. The nonprofits works towards accommodating special needs community members.
The MCC and Muhsen want to know the requirements of special-need families in our community. If you have a family member with Special Needs, please click on the link below to fill out a Needs Assessment Survey. If you know of a family in our community, who has a family member with special needs, please share the survey below with them. All responses are confidential and will only be provided to the Muhsen team.
Special Needs Assessment Survey
As a special-needs masjid, we would be happy to accommodate you! Need an interpreter, seating, etc.? Email MCC’s Special Needs Coordinator Sr. Ayah Refai at help@mcceastbay.org.
Please also join the MUHSEN’s San Francisco Bay Area WhatsApp Group.
If you are looking for an attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area, specialized in special-needs legal needs for Muslim families, please contact Br. Ikhlas Ahmed.
May Allah (swt) grant the MCC special-needs volunteer team the energy and ability to make the Muslim Community Center – East Bay more accommodating for every member of our community and help re-mosque our special-needs families who may have been made to feel alienated from their masjid, Ameen!
Fore more information about MUHSEN and providing support to special needs for community members, please visit muhsen.org.
Our friends at Family Resource Navigator also are a community partner.
1 in 5 Americans (64 million people) have a disability
It’s estimated that at least 15% of the population is neurodiverse