Dubai, Oct. 24th, 2010 (WAM) -- The recently concluded 4th GCC Conference on Learning Disability and Inclusion called for more and more focused efforts to increase knowledge and awareness of different learning difficulty issues, its symptoms, causes and methods of treatment and appropriate educational intervention in order to overcome them.
The two-day conference held at Renaissance Dubai Hotel during 20-21 October also appealed for concerted efforts to develop methods to identify cases of learning difficulties including appropriate tests, screening and diagnosis to the nature of the Arabic language and the educational and cultural system heritage of the UAE and the rest of the GCC and the Arab region. The conference, organized by Dubai-based Ishara Consultants, was addressed by several international speakers in the field of learning difficulty. The event, held under the patronage of the UAE Education Minister was opened by Shaikha Rashid Al Hisan Al Shamsi, Acting CEO for Educational Affairs in the Ministry in the presence of Mirza Al Sayegh, Director of the Office of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Minister of Finance, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Municipality. There were six workshops along side the conference and the topics included "Screening and Assessment of Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia," conducted by Dr. Gavin Reid, "Motivating Students to learn: Tips for teachers," by Dr. Gad Elbeheri, "Screening and Assessment of Dyscalculia," by Dr. Steve Chinn, "Tips for including parents of individuals with learning disabilities" by Dr. Gavin Reid and "Inclusion Quality Mark: The Evaluation and Assessment Process," by Joe McCann. The conference was attended by around 300 delegates including principals, administrators, counsellors, social workers, teachers, parents, researchers, adult literacy educators, college educators, correctional specialists, curriculum specialists, learning disability specialists, reading specialists, staff developers, speech and language specialists, library and media specialists, technology coordinators, medical and mental health professionals, teachers of special education and general education, education policy advocates and college student support personnel, adults with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and parents of children with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
