Call for awareness at special needs conclave

Dubai: The second International Conference for Special Needs was opened on Tuesday by Shaikh Juma Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, acting chairman of the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre (RPTC) at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The two-day event aims to create awareness about children with mental and physical disabilities and programmes that make use of the latest technologies to impart training to them.

It also seeks to create a platform for local special needs therapists to exchange information with international experts in the field.

Hospitals in attendance

Among topics being deliberated on are the need for early intervention in children and families, the impact of diseases such as scleroderma, and technological advances that help overcome impairments. The conference will also highlight the best practices being implemented for patients in neuro-orthopaedic rehabilitation.

Around 40 institutions including schools and hospitals are attending the conference. The event attempts to highlight the latest technologies for improving the productivity of special needs people.

Nasser Abu Shahab, the director of the Statistical Department at the Roads and Transport Authority, said during the opening session that the RTA had plans to partner the marriage fund to support the marriages of some special needs people.

Professor Lihadh AlGhazali, winner of the L'Oreal Unesco Award for Women in Science, emphasised the creation of a strong educational programme for families in the UAE to check the incidence of children born with disabilities.

Janette S. Graham, head teacher at RPTC, gave an overview of the programmes being implemented by RPTC.

The conference also attempts to highlight the latest technologies for improving the productivity of special needs people.