Sasol and the British Council in partnership with Qatar Museums are organising “Definitely Able” conference which will bring together stakeholders working towards inclusion for people with disabilities into the community.
Taking place on March 18 and 19, the Conference will share examples of good practice and shed light on the challenges that people with disabilities face as they try to integrate into society and achieve equal opportunities.
More than 30 speakers from Qatar, the region and around the world will address eight sessions on various topics including Disability legislation, Employability, Inclusive learning technologies, Attitudes and disability terminology, Education access, Art as a vehicle to change perceptions, Accessible museums and galleries and Finding the accessible Doha.
Diversity champion Simon Minty will host the conference, which will include performances by the Al Noor Institute for the Blind featuring child singer Rebecca Chalouhi.
Speakers include Lord Holmes of Richmond, the UK Paralympic champion; Justice Zakeria Yacoob from South Africa; Maha Al Mansouri, CEO of Mada Qatar Assistive Technology Center; Prof. Dr. Georges Tamer, Chair of Oriental Philology and Islamic Studies at the Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg; Dr. Asma Abdulla Al Attiyah, Head of Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Education at Qatar University; Khalid Al-Shoaibi, from Al Noor Institute for the Blind; and Mark Dyer, Accessibility & Inclusive Design Adviser – Programme Management Consultant, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.
Running parallel to the conference is the ILHAM Art Exhibition which will open to the public at the Museum of Islamic Art from March 18 to 27. Featuring the work of seven disabled artists from Qatar, Oman and the UK, unique pieces of art will be displayed for the first time ever during the Exhibition. Artists created new works melding their own style with Arabic influences during a trip to Qatar earlier this year.
Hussain Ali Al Thawadi, Chief Operating Officer, Qatar Museums, said: “Qatar Museums and the Museum of Islamic Art are pleased to be partners and hosts of the Definitely Able Conference and ILHAM Art Exhibition. Art is a form of expression that allows individuals to understand one another in a pure and emotional way. We look forward to the events and the opportunity to demonstrate how art can break down barriers in society.”
Marjo Louw, President, Sasol Qatar, said: “Inclusion is critical to a highly-developed and functioning society. We’re proud to have created the Definitely Able initiative, now in its third year, to address barriers facing the disabled community and to shed light on the abilities of people of all talents. Partnering with British Council and Qatar Museums to bring the art and culture components together as bridges to understanding is a natural extension of the Definitely Able initiative.”
Martin Hope, Director of the British Council in Qatar, said: “Partnering with Sasol and Qatar Museums, the British Council’s objective is to bring people together from around the world to share their knowledge and experience in the field of inclusion and disability and learn from each other. The recommendations of the conference will be implemented through a number of follow-up initiatives over the next year, which will ensure impact and sustainability.”
The event builds on Sasol’s “Definitely Able” initiative and British Council’s Arts and Disability Festival during Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture.
The Peninsula
