A man looks at his phone on Doha Corniche on July 2, 2017 (AFP)
DOHA: Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said that the rate of e-accessibility in Qatar has reached 91 percent, thus becoming the first among Arab and regional countries and one of 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), organised by Mada Assistive Technology Centre, the Minister said that this rate is a matter of pride and that the State spares 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.
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). He praised the innovative and locally produced programmes and devices that were presented on the sidelines of the conference and were invented by Qatari youth from different bodies and institutions.
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.
She stressed that this international participation reflects the advanced scientific level and the regional and international role played by Qatar and that this conference has been well recognized on the map of global assistive technology.
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 expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Ministry of Transport and Communications and other sponsors, institutions, agencies and partners to provide the best services and technological solutions for the disabled.
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 Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Foundation for Social Work and Hamad Medical Corporation graduated. The Conference witnessed 64 specialised training workshops and educational sessions presented by 55 experts and specialists. It was attended by more than 1,100 participants from inside and outside Qatar.
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.
