Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs (QSRSN), in co-operation with the Cultural Committee of Al Arabi Sports Club, organised a panel discussion on invisible disabilities and social and functional rehabilitation for people with disabilities, via visual communication technology.
The panel, titled “Not all disabilities are visible,” dealt with three main axes: “An Analytical View of Invisible Disabilities,” “Social Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities between Reality and Expectations,” and “Functional Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities,”. The panel witnessed distinguished participation, interventions, and valuable inquiries from the public, specialists, those interested in the field of disability, and parents.
QSRSN Chairman HE Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah al-Thani, explained that the QSRSN aimed, through the panel, to shed light on disabilities that are not apparent or invisible, and to create a deeper understanding and awareness of the visible and invisible disabilities, affirming that this is one of the important roles of cultural and educational institutions such as concerned societies, sports clubs, youth centres, special education centres, and others.
He called on all cultural and sports institutions to continue to spread awareness on the issues of persons with disabilities and rehabilitate them according to their needs and the types of disabilities they suffer from, as this is a solidarity responsibility for all members of society.
During the panel discussions, Dr Tariq al-Essawi revealed the World Health Organisation’s estimates on disability, which confirm that 15% of the world’s population, or more than 1bn people, suffer from a disability and that about 450mn of them suffer from a mental or nervous state, pointing out that there are roles in the field of caring and providing services for persons with disabilities in most countries of the world, which requires uniting and co-ordinating efforts to integrate and facilitate it for the persons with disabilities and their families.
Dr Ibrahim Attia stressed the importance of exploring the capabilities, skills, and energies of persons with disabilities and leading them in the correct direction, calling on media agencies and media professionals to double their roles to highlight rehabilitation and support efforts for people with disabilities.
Dr Jihan Madani stressed the importance of job rehabilitation for people with disabilities, developing their functional and professional capabilities and qualifying families and parents to build confidence in their children and encourage them to make double efforts to qualify their children for self-reliance and deal with them as independent people who can give and play important roles in society.