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"A society where everyone, regardless of background or disability, feels welcome, included and supported"

Dh500,000 disability research grant offered

(By Afshan Ahmed, 19.01.11, Dubai) Researchers in the field of disabilities will be offered a grant of up to Dh500,000 by the Emirates Foundation.

Sabha al Shamsi, senior executive advisor to the education programme at Emirates Foundation, said the grant was part of an effort to raise awareness and increase visibility of people with disabilities.

"We are looking for organisations and professionals who are interested in finding out more about the different disabilities in the society and addressing them," she said.

The foundation will offer either Dh500,000 for a two-year research project, or Dh200,000 for a one-year research project, preferably for research in the field of promoting the inclusion of disabled people in mainstream society.

Extra attention will be given to research that promotes independent living, improve services, decrease discrimination and increase access to education and employment for those with disabilities in the UAE.

"We are also interested in projects that look at hidden disabilities in the classroom that teachers do not identify,” said Ms al Shamsi. “More research needs to be done in identifying these students and working towards integration."

Any licensed organisation, school, academic institution, health centre or research professional working on projects in this field can apply for the grant at www.emiratesfoundation.ae until February 28, 2011.

Source: http://www.thenational.ae/

Dubai to host conference on learning disability

(19.10.10, Dubai) International speakers will convene in Dubai as part of the 4th GCC conference on learning disability and inclusion. Hosted by Ishara Consultants, the conference will take place at the Renaissance Hotel in Dubai on October 21 and 22.

UAE Education Minister, Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qattami, will open the conference which will look into learning disability in lesser-known areas such as mathematics (dyscalculia) and writing (dysgraphia).

Dr Gad Elbeheri, Director at the Centre for Child Evaluation and Teaching, Kuwait, will talk on developing an ‘Inclusion Eco System’.

Other experts include Dr Gavin Reid, award-winning author and educational psychologist who will provide inputs on dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia along with Dr Steve Chinn, an expert in addressing learning disability in mathematics.

The conference will also look at social and emotional implications of inclusion, an area that is frequently neglected in schools.

Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/

Man with double-leg disability hits the road

Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter, 05.07.09, Dubai

Malek Yousuf Iqbal's dream to drive in Dubai came true on Sunday after he got his driving licence on his second attempt.

Iqbal, who has a permanent disability in both legs, is the first such driver to receive formal driving training from the Emirates Driving Institute (EDI) which is also the first driving school in the UAE to offer driving lessons to people with a disability in both legs. Earlier, driving institutes offered training only to people with a one leg disability.

"I am so happy to drive around in the city today," Iqbal told Gulf News. He said that he had already bought a modified car with the permission of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)."I am fully independent to move around now. I don't have to depend on my friends and do not have to go through the agonising wait to get taxis," he said.

Fatima Raees, EDI Marketing Manager said that they were the first to introduce this new service for people with special needs as part of the EDI's corporate social responsibility agenda.

"We have got two more students with a double-leg disability and they are trained by a specially trained driving instructor," she added. "I am glad that I am the first in the UAE to have formal driving training. I was also the first to get such a driving licence in Islamabad in 2006," said Iqbal, whose legs were weakened by a post-polio syndrome when he was seven months old. Iqbal, 27, who works as a manager for finance and collections at a local company, wants to have a driving licence because he faces mobility problems. "My ability to drive around will change my life and help me do my job even better," he said.

Earlier, Peter Richardson, EDI general manager for technical and operations, told Gulf News that rehabilitation facilities were extremely scarce at present. "Driving is recognised by medical staff as a major rehabilitation opportunity especially for people who were driving but got some form of disability due to some accident," he said.

He said that a driving licence brings with it independence, self-esteem and a great opportunity to actively participate in the society in which a person lives.

"There are many talented people who could make a wonderful contribution to the future of Dubai but lack the motivation because of mobility," he said. "They want to come back on the road to [the] active part of society."

The EDI has two modified cars, a specially trained instructor and has even provided training to the RTA examiners to introduce the new facility, he said. Richardson said that people with special needs get the same level of training and have to pass the same examinations to get a driving licence. They do not get any special treatment because they have to be completely trained to be on the road.

Source: www.gulfnews.com