ID :
490088
Thu, 04/26/2018 - 16:10
Auther :

Qatar's Minister of Transport and Communications: Qatar the First Among Arab and Regional Countries in E-Accessibility

Doha, April 26 (QNA) - HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti affirmed that the rate of e-Accessibility in the State of Qatar reached 91%, thus becoming the first among Arab and regional countries and the best in the world. In a statement on the sidelines of the conclusion of the second edition of the three-day Gulf Region Education Assistive Technology Conference 2018 (GREAT 2018), organized by Mada Assistive Technology Centre, HE the Transport and Communications Minister said that this rate is a matter of pride and that the State spare no effort to invest in the field of technology not only at the level of normal persons but also at the level of persons with disabilities who need these compensatory means to make their lives easier at all stages from childhood to the elderly. HE said that the ministry is moving rapidly on the path of investing in e-Accessibility and paying attention to all segments of the society, whether in ordinary technology or Assistive Technology (AT), praising at the same time the innovative and locally produced programs and devices that were presented on the sidelines of the conference and were invested by Qatari youth from different bodies and institutions operating in the country. In the same context, Chief Executive Officer of Mada Assistive Technology Centre Maha Al Mansouri praised the results of the conference and its role in bringing together experts and international actors in the field of Assistive Technology and e-Accessibility at the global level, stressing that this international participation reflects the advanced scientific level and the regional and international role played by the state Qatar and that this conference has been well recognized on the map of global assistive technology. Moreover, Al Mansouri highly valued the results achieved by the Center's partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Foundation for Social Work and Hamad Medical Corporation, referring to the graduation of more than 67 of the (AT Super Users) program for the assistive technology. The graduates will provide services in their affiliation as part of the commitment to provide assistive technology services independently to different sectors, she said. Mada CEO also congratulated the winners of the e-Accessibility award and the comprehensive design award, pointing out that e-Accessibility rate in Qatar reached 91%, a level of pride worldwide. She expressed gratitude for the cooperation and integration with Sasol, international integrated chemicals and energy company, represented by its initiative Accessible Qatar, in providing services and ensuring a better life for people with disabilities. Al Mansouri also expressed gratitude for the great support provided by the Ministry of Transport and Communications and other local and international sponsors, institutions, agencies and partners to provide the best services and technological solutions for people with disabilities. During the closing ceremony of the Gulf Region Education Assistive Technology Conference 2018 (GREAT 2018), the Ministry of Interior was honored for winning the first place of the e-Accessibility award, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came in second place and the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs came third. The design award was won by the Museum of Islamic Art, while 67 "AT Super Users" students from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Foundation for Social Work and Hamad Medical Corporation graduated. The Conference witnessed 64 specialized training workshops and educational sessions presented by 55 experts and specialists. It was attended by more than 1100 participants from inside and outside Qatar. The first day of the conference witnessed 24 training hours presented by 25 experts and the second day witnessed 28 hours presented by 26 specialists. The accompanying exhibition of the Conference witnessed the participation of 14 local authorities and an international company that showcased their latest technological products and the latest local and regional innovations. There was also a theatre show for innovation that presented 12 unique performances by innovators and inventors from around the world on the latest assistive technological innovations and solutions. In Mada area, the content of 16 best practices and projects in access and assistive technology were presented. The second and third days of the conference were allocated for training workshops on the assistive technology and its use in specific areas, including education, independent living, e-accessibility and innovation, as e-Accessibility to entertainment, the efficiency of assistive technology in classrooms, the use of enhanced and alternative communication, the use of smart living technology, the latest international digital access standards and many useful topics to be presented and discussed by experts and specialists in workshops, were discussed during the Conference. (QNA)

X