DOHA: The second Gulf Region Education Assistive Technology (GREAT) conference, which is being organised by Mada Assistive Technology Center, opens tomorrow at Marza Malaz Kempinski The Pearl-Doha, Mada has announced.
Under the patronage of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the three-day first-of-its-kind conference in the region is expected to gather hundreds of experts, end users, frontline workers and innovators to promote initiative technologies, best practices, implementation strategies, research and education in the field of Assistive Technology (AT) and accessibility.
The conference will see 55 experts and professionals from around the world in 64 workshops and sessions focusing on four main domains related to Inclusive Computer Technology (ICT) and AT namely education, independent living, E-accessibility and innovation.
Crucial topics will take the spotlight at the conference such as Power of Assistive Technology in Classrooms; E-Accessibility of Entertainment; Tools, Technologies and Approaches in Training Elderly Healthcare Providers; The Role of AI in to Provide Independent Life for PWD; Best Practice in Inclusive Education; and Employment for People with Disabilities.
Among the speakers are Dr. Dena Al Thani, assistant professor, Information & Computing Technology, College of Science & Engineering at Hamad bin Khalifa University; Mohammed Hasan Al Jefairi, Qatari inventor, entrepreneur and author; Dr. Christopher Lee, executive director of the AMAC Accessibility Research Center at the University System of Georgia and Dr. Ahmed K. Elmagarmid, executive director of Qatar Computing Research Institute.
Running alongside the workshops is an exhibition comprising interactive zones including Innovation Zone, which sheds light on the upcoming Arabic AT solutions that are developed in collaboration with Mada; Innovation Theatre, a platform featuring selected innovative AT solutions and concepts; AT Exhibition Zone featuring the latest AT solutions from local and international exhibitors and Mada Zone, an interactive space showcasing the impact of initiatives implemented by Mada through International best practices and other projects allowing leaders and professionals to have dynamic discourses on how best to drive Qatar towards improving the lives of persons with disabilities.
The conference will concluded with an event-packed gala dinner during which the best e-accessibility sites in Qatar will be awarded for the first time. The best all-inclusive entity in Qatar in the digital and physical accessibility field will also be recognised jointly by Mada and Accessible Qatar (Sasol).
The gala event will also witness the graduation of more than 60 assistive technology super users this year. The inaugural graduates are from Hamad Medical Corporation, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and Shafallah Center.
Another highlight of the evening will be a cultural event featuring performance of international artist Lorelai Mosnegut, a multi-talented girl born without arms who was Romania’s Got Talent winner last year.
