Qtel’s special needs training group
This summer, 17 employees who work in Qtel Shops throughout Doha are learning sign language, to be better equipped to assist hearing-impaired customers.
The training programme is an extension of the company’s community outreach initiative known as “Access for All,” launched in December 2010. “Access for All” is dedicated to addressing the needs of the disabled.
In June, 17 customer service representatives who are team leaders and heads of sections at Qtel Shops received week-long training.
The daily training was conducted by Mohammed Ali Bin Ali and Samir Samareen, both certified sign language trainers.
In early September, the Qtel customer service training unit will conduct two more week-long sessions on sign language to complete the course for the designated staff. 
Qtel will have customer service representatives who are proficient in sign language at its Villaggio, Al Rayyan, Salwa and Hyatt Plaza shops by early October. They will be easily identifiable by their badges, which will say “I speak sign language.”  In the coming months, Qtel will train customer service representatives in sign language to staff its Al Wakhra, City Center and Al Khor shops as well.
Qtel has partnered with Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre) and Vodafone under the umbrella “Access for All” initiative, which aims to give disabled people in Qatar the tools they need to successfully communicate and participate in society.
Under the “Access for All” initiative, the disabled now have access to special handsets and accessories as well as new Qtel call centre and customer billing services.
In addition, the Qtel website has been updated with a dedicated section for the disabled, with helpful information and assistive tools such as magnification.
To qualify for a special 50% discount on Qtel assistive technology and services offered through “Access for All,” all a customer has to do is show a disability ID card produced by the Society of Special Needs & Rehabilitation in Qatar. Anyone who is over 65 also qualifies. As individual customers, the disabled receive this discount on all mobile, Internet and landline services except for international calls. The disabled are also eligible to receive a specialised handset at a 50% discount every two years.