ABU DHABI (WAM)
Zayed University will host the Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education Summit on November 19 at its campus in Abu Dhabi.
The two-day summit, held under the theme "Inclusion for Tomorrow", will promote worldwide inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.
The summit event will unite more than 300 leading advocates for inclusion from around the world to exchange insights and explore best practices for promoting social inclusion through sports, youth leadership, and comprehensive school engagement.
The summit will also feature a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops designed to promote a deeper understanding of the transformative power of inclusion.
Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, will participate in a Fireside Chat titled "The UAE Journey to Inclusion: The Role of Sports in Driving Inclusion". He will discuss the country's commitment to driving lasting social change and fostering inclusion in the UAE, across the region and worldwide.
The Minister will introduce key elements of the UAE's approach to promote inclusion in sports and education as a core pillar of National Sports Strategy 2031 and progress to date on advancing unified sports in schools across the emirates.
Belhoul said that the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi represented the start of the UAE's long-term partnership with Special Olympics to advance the national vision for achieving social inclusion as well as to support the country's ongoing commitment to invest in the healthy development and growth of all youth across the country.
"Since the 2019 World Games, we have worked closely with Special Olympics UAE and the Global Centre to create new programmes and initiatives to drive inclusion across our national sports and education communities. We look forward to sharing our progress at the upcoming summit. More importantly, we look forward to participating in this powerful platform to champion inclusivity in sports and education and to forge new partnerships that will enable us all to continue to advance our shared objective of achieving lasting global social inclusion," he noted.
Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics, said, "Building on the powerful legacy of the 2019 World Games, the UAE continues to champion the cause of inclusion through Special Olympics. Our commitment extends through the Global Centre, which is at the heart of our mission to foster acceptance and bring about positive change for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Today, the centre supports 25 programmes across 25 countries, each designed to showcase the lasting impact of our united efforts for a more inclusive world."
"At Zayed University, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive academic environment where every student has the opportunity to excel. Through our Student Accessibility Services department, we empower Students of Determination with the latest assistive technologies and tailored support to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential," said Professor Michael Allen, Acting Vice President of Zayed University.