To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre) and Vodafone Qatar have teamed up to launch permanent offers for customers with disabilities.Vodafone Qatar is offering customers with disabilities a 50% discount on all post-paid plans and 20% discount on selected handsets equipped with accessibility features and applications. The telecommunications provider will also offer home delivery of any product purchased online by customers with disabilities and home pick-up of bill payment.Vodafone Qatar in collaboration with Mada has trained its store managers to communicate and deal effectively with customers with disabilities.Mada also helped Vodafone assess the accessibility features of various handsets.Mada will continue to provide expertise and support to ensure that customers with disabilities in Qatar are able to make the best choice of handsets.The Mada assessment team will be able to offer free advice to customers with more complex needs.Vodafone’s accessibility initiative aims to make Vodafone as accessible as possible to individuals with disabilities.The initiative is implemented over a number of phases, starting with phase one that focuses on offering accessible products, services and a website to enable the social inclusion of disabled customers.The next steps will focus on innovative mobile solutions and applications and accessibility of retail stores.Vodafone Qatar chief executive Richard Daly said yesterday: “It is part of our responsibility to contribute by making mobile technology and the power of telecommunications more accessible for everyone. This includes handsets, tariffs and services that are specifically tailored to people with disabilities.”Mada chief executive David Banes said: “Mada is dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to the world of information and communication technology. Mobile phones and the Internet are changing the way we communicate and having the freedom to communicate through a mobile is an essential part of our daily lives, giving us greater independence, flexibility and security.“Mada in partnership with Vodafone aims to include individuals with disabilities in this revolution to benefit from today’s highly connected world.”Vodafone Qatar’s corporate social responsibility head Dana Haidan was also present.