The Gulf Region Education Assistive Technology Conference (Great), organised by Mada for the first time in the region, was inaugurated yesterday by HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi.
A number of educational sessions took place during the pre-event programme from Sunday and throughout the first day of the conference, which provided attendees with the tools and knowledge to solve their toughest challenges in education and learn the latest assistive technology (AT) practices.
The event, which concludes today at the Qatar National Convention Centre, highlights the commitment of Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre) in spreading awareness about people with disabilities (PWD) in Qatar, and helps them stay connected in a world that is increasingly dependent on technology.
Mada chief executive Maha al-Mansouri said the organisation’s goal is to provide quality mainstream education for students with disabilities by the end of 2018.
“Our conference is a huge milestone for PWD in Qatar, as it provides an ideal platform to further extend the necessary tools and knowledge needed to provide education and AT practices to those teaching PWD,” she explained.
The conference witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding between Mada and other parties in the field of communication, information technology and AT.
These will play an important role in the development of Qatar’s AT sector through implementing best practices in this field.
The Great 2017 conference, which focuses on education practices in Inclusive Computer Technology and AT, has Qatar Rail as an official sponsor.
Qatar Rail managing director and chief executive Abdulla Abdulaziz al-Subaie, who addressed the opening ceremony yesterday, stressed on the importance his organisation pays to supporting all segments of community including people with disability.
He also officially opened the accompanying exhibition.
A session in progress at the conference yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed
