AL-FURQAAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THE LOCATION OF FURQAAN ACADEMY FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN—THE FIRST ISLAMIC SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN NORTH AMERICA
ROMEOVILLE, IL — April 23, 2025 – Furqaan Academy, under Al-Furqaan Foundation, announced the launch of Furqaan Academy for Exceptional Children (FAEC), the first Islamic school in North America dedicated to Muslim students with special needs. With a newly secured location at 8141 S Cass Ave, Darien, IL, FAEC will serve Pre-K to 3rd Grade, offering an inclusive and faith-centered education.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for special education and inclusion for Muslim families in North America,” said Ms. Ruby Ramirez, Principal of FAEC. “Our school blends core subjects with Islamic learning and personalized therapies, fostering literacy, language, and social communication at each student’s pace. FAEC is more than a school—it is a place of hope, belonging, and opportunity. In a world that often overlooks those who learn, move, and communicate differently, we choose to see them, to honor them, and to serve them.“
FAEC will set a new benchmark in Islamic education with a comprehensive curriculum tailored for children with diverse learning and developmental needs, like Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disabilities, Genetic Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorders, Speech/Language Impairments, Multiple Disabilities, and more. Notable features of the school include:
- Individual and group therapeutic services
- Personalized lesson plans aligned with Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals across ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
- Integration of Arabic, Quran, and Islamic studies across subjects and themes.
- Use of adaptive tools and cutting-edge technologies
- Special Education Specialist staff and curriculum that is research-based, theme-based, play-focused, and data-driven
- In coordination with Illinois Public Schools and the Illinois State Board of Education
“As a community, we’ve waited too long for a school like this,” said Mr. Wajahat Sayeed, Founder & President of Al-Furqaan Foundation. “These children and their families deserve a place where they are fully supported – academically, emotionally, and spiritually. We can’t leave them behind. This is our chance to build something meaningful, and we need everyone’s help to make it happen.”
Ms. Samiya Zamani, Deputy Executive Director of Furqaan Academy, a division of Al-Furqaan Foundation, shared, “The launch of FAEC is a historic milestone and a heartfelt commitment to children with special needs and their families, ensuring they receive the support to thrive in an Islamic environment. As a natural extension of Furqaan Academy’s mission, the school expands access to high-quality, faith-based education for ALL Muslim children.”
For enrollment inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or to donate therapeutic tools and classroom resources, please visit https://faec.furqaanacademy.org. Together, Furqaan Academy for Exceptional Children hopes to build a legacy where EVERY Muslim child receives the Islamic education they deserve.
ABOUT AL-FURQAAN FOUNDATION
Al-Furqaan Foundation was established in 2003 as a non-profit dawah organization based in Illinois, dedicated to fulfilling the five rights of The Quran: Believe It, Recite It, Understand It, Act Upon It, and Convey It. Through its many divisions and projects, like Furqaan Academy, it hopes to fulfill these rights and deliver the message of The Quran to everyone in North America. To learn more, visit https://furqaan.org/.
ABOUT FURQAAN ACADEMY
Founded on Al-Furqaan Foundation’s vision of a Quranic generation, Furqaan Academy currently operates three academies under its umbrella: Furqaan Academy Bolingbrook – a fully accredited Pre-K to Grade 12 school with award-winning hifdh program and Furqaan Academy Online – a nationwide online counterpart for Grades 1-12 with the same curriculum, and Furqaan Academy for Exceptional Children – North America’s first Islamic school for special needs students, currently serving Grades Pre-K to 3 with plans to expand annually.