Saturday, May 16, 2015

Dubai: More than 60 students with physical disabilities attended Challenge Day at Zayed University (ZU) in Dubai.

The event, organised by the Dubai Club for the Disabled and Zayed University on Thursday, came as part of the ‘My community … a city for everyone’ initiative, which aspires to make Dubai a friendly city for people with disabilities.

Professor Reyadh Al Mehaideb, Vice-President of ZU, said: “Zayed University has always been committed to provide a range of services for students with disabilities. It has facilitated their enrolment process to ensure their academic success, provided employment opportunities for them on campus, and applied the latest and most developed practices to meet their needs and desires.” He said that several awareness campaigns, activities and events were held earlier by the university to better understand how to assist people with disabilities.

The one-day event was also attended by Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi, Championship Director at Dubai Club for the Disabled, who delivered a lecture on the importance of protecting the rights of people with disabilities

“The UAE has issued and passed several laws aimed at protecting the right of those with disabilities. The regulations bring together cooperation among all concerned authorities in Dubai to provide health-care services, therapeutic services, habitation and rehabilitation for people with disabilities, in addition to providing educational opportunities that are equal to those provided to their peers,” Al Usaimi said.

“The law also stipulates providing full public services to people with disabilities, including the use of roads, public transport, police and judicial services to ensure their integration within the community,” he explained.

The Dubai Club for the Disabled provides more than 15 kinds of sports for people with disabilities, such as football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, equestrian, bowling, weightlifting and chess, in addition to other activities that are designed for women with disabilities such as sewing, fashion designing and glass painting.

Staff Report

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