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Give disabled students access to education

More than a hundred education specialists and policy-makers from over 30 countries shared Insights to identify ways to improve awareness of Special Needs and Inclusion in education at a conference hosted by the British Council and Zayed University.

Fatma Alqassim, manager of the Office of Accessibility, Zayed University, referring to the research, said, “Statistical research indicates that the number of persons with disabilities in the UAE is set to rise and currently almost 77 per cent of Emirati nationals with disabilities need little or no help, 28 per cent are dependable on some form of help or support. This makes our mission to provide students with equal opportunities, and the aim of this conference is to highlight and support efforts to increase awareness of inclusion within the educational system in the UAE.”

Zayed University has played a crucial role in increasing awareness of accessibility to students with special needs in the UAE, especially by opening the Office of Accessibility in 2010.

The conference offered a platform for similar organisations and practitioners to share insights and collaborate in the joint effort to help meet the needs of people with disabilities in education.

Conference Chair Susan Douglas, Senior Adviser, Schools, British Council and CEO of The Eden Academy, said “ This conference has allowed policy-makers and senior practitioners from over 30 countries to directly share experiences, challenges and opportunities related to ensuring access and engagement for everyone within their education systems. By building connections and reflecting on the principles of inclusive best practice discussed at the conference, the hope is that participants will use this experience to further develop future inclusion provision in their own countries.”

During the conference, delegates, presenters and facilitators addressed questions and challenges such as: how to ensure access and engagement for all, methodology and tools to support inclusion, and practical solutions to ensure inclusion in subjects like physical education and technology.

Marc Jessel, British Council Director in the United Arab Emirates, said: “The British Council is delighted with the turnout and dedication of the conference delegates. We believe that with the Special Educational Needs: Access and Engagement Conference, we have taken another step towards building positive perceptions and ensuring that all children and young people with special needs have the human right to suitable, effective and appropriate education here in the UAE and globally.”

The second and final day of the conference took a forward-looking approach, facilitating debate about how systems can support the development of an appropriate infrastructure for inclusion. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has much to offer in this regard and Dr Ahmad Almoran, UAE Researcher, Ministry of Social Affairs, presented the study “The importance of adopting e-accessibility policy to promote the inclusion of disabled people in higher education”.

Delegates also discussed a recent research study titled “The Dubai Social Screening — 3 (DSS3)” conducted by the Community Development Authority, which showed that the number of persons with special needs is on the rise.

The study indicates that the number of persons with disabilities in Dubai is 13,234 of whom 4,962 are UAE nationals. This number has been projected to reach 17,753 by 2020 of whom 6,650 are expected to be UAE nationals. The conference was therefore an important stepping stone in helping to identify methods to ensure inclusion and equal access to education for everyone in the future.

education@khaleejtimes.com