By Eman Al-Awadhi
MADRID, July 16 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's participation in the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) conference comes to support the deaf and mute in the country, and those with special needs in general, said Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Nouriya Al-Subeeh on Monday.
"Kuwait is a pioneer in caring for those with special needs, and the establishment of the Education Ministry's Special Education Department reflects the state's support for this important group in our society," said the minister in a statement to KUNA.
Al-Subeeh, who is heading her country's delegation to the 15th World Congress of the WFD, said the ministry had allocated around KD 500,000 for seven projects that would be implemented by the year 2008 to support those with special needs.
These projects, she said, include the construction of a special complex to tend to their requirements such as advanced technology to help them communicate, and a physio-therapy center.
"In recent years, there has been a global trend for integrating those with special needs in public schools, and we are now working on integrating the deaf in schools system to encourage societal acceptance of their handicaps," she added.
The minister noted that the delegation to the congress, which kicked off earlier today, included deaf members, adding that such meetings helped them keep in touch with the latest global developments concerning them and network with representatives of international organizations that worked with in this field.
Kuwait, represented by the Special Education Department, is constantly in contact with international organizations working with those with special needs to benefit from their expertise, she noted.
"We seek to place Kuwait on the map and highlight its efforts in this area. We are keen on UN human rights conventions and this conference is an opportunity to show the world that helping those with special needs is an issue that we place great emphasis on," the minister noted.
Moreover, Al-Subeeh said that the establishment of Kuwait's Higher Council for the Affairs of the Handicapped "gave a big boost" to those with special needs.
"I think that all people with handicaps, whether deaf , blind or suffering from paralysis, have special and distinctive abilities and we must not deny them the opportunity to contribute to building our society," she stressed.
Kuwait is proud of its efforts in this area, but more support must be given to those with special needs and participation in such events keeps them in touch with the rest of the world instead of isolating them, she concluded.
The 15th World Congress of the WFD, which kicked off earlier today and will conclude on June 22, will hold session and workshops on topics concerning the deaf community around the world.
The Kuwaiti delegation participating in the congress include representatives from the Ministry of Education's Special Education Department, Kuwait Sports Club for the Deaf, Kuwait Society for Hearing Disabilities (under establishment), and the Higher Council for the Affairs of the Handicapped.
