Manama, The Kingdom of Bahrain will host the 21st annual scientific forum for people with disabilities, to be organised by the Gulf Disability Society, in cooperation with the Arabian Gulf University on October 17-19.
His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Supreme Council for Youth and Sport First Deputy Chairman, General Sports Authority Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President, will patronise the event, themed “Integrating Persons with Disabilities in University Education- Opportunities and Challenges”.
The scientific forum features four plenary sessions, three training workshops, and tourist tours for the participants.
It will attract 150 activists, including civil society leaders, experts, academics, cadres, and people with disabilities, from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other Arab countries.
The plenary sessions will discuss 16 research papers that address the following topics: Preparation for the integration of people with disabilities into university education, the use of technology in integration, and mechanisms for integrating people with disabilities into higher education.
A special session will be devoted to highlighting the successful experiences in university integration for students with disabilities. It will focus on the experiences of the University of Bahrain, the Gulf College in Oman, Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training in Kuwait, in addition to those of the Technical College and Taibah University in Saudi Arabia.
The research papers to be presented by academics from the GCC countries, Egypt and Morocco use new scientific methods and tools, such surveying students with disabilities to measure the extent of their readiness for university education, as well as conducting field studies on the services provided to disabled students at universities, the uses of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in university integration, and the university’s role in reducing their psychological, social, and educational problems.
The forum will include three training workshops aimed at providing families, teaching staff, and university students with disabilities with specific skills in order to promote university integration.
It will also include a panel discussion that will issue recommendations presented by the Gulf Disability Society to decision-makers, civil society and the media in the GCC countries.
Shaikh Duaij bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Honorary President of the Gulf Disability Society and one its founders, expressed thanks and appreciation to HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad for patronising the event, noting that His Highness had patronised the 19th edition, themed “Disabilities Sports: Challenge and Ambition”, which ensured its success.
Source: Bahrain News Agency
