Sharjah: Jasour-News Desk
Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services continues to strengthen its leadership in the Arab region by continuously enhancing specialized services for individuals with special needs, under the slogan “Advocacy, Inclusion, and Empowerment.” It is the first independent Emirati organization providing services to individuals with special needs.
The city relies on specialized rehabilitation and educational programs aligned with the vision of 21st-century education, empowerment in employment, independent living, and local and international partnerships. Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services includes 14 schools and centers for the education, rehabilitation, and integration of people with special needs, including the Assistive Technology Center. The city has three branches in Khorfakkan, Al Dhaid, and Kalba. Its services encompass educational, training, rehabilitation, awareness and education, community responsibility, employment, and therapeutic services.
Beneficiaries:
The city serves approximately 3,055 individuals with special needs annually. This includes 1,014 beneficiaries of classroom services, 1,221 beneficiaries of the therapeutic center, 152 beneficiaries of family counseling services, and 668 beneficiaries of other services.
The city employs 67 individuals with special needs out of a total of 711 employees. In this context, researcher Mohamed Salah, a specialist in assistive technologies at Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services – UAE, presented a research paper titled “The Role of Assistive Technology Services in Improving the Quality of Life for People with Special Needs” at the first international conference of the Faculty of Special Education at Misr University for Science and Technology in Cairo, held in November 2024.
The paper highlighted the specialized services for people with special needs since the establishment of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services in 1979, the role of the Assistive Technology Center in providing specialized services, and the ease of access to assistive technologies. It discussed the success factors of assistive technology services, including facilitating and improving the quality of life for individuals with special needs and their families in various domains such as daily activities, education, health, rehabilitation services, mobility, and recreation.
The research also covered indirect services like facilities, partnerships, awareness programs, and their role in education and support at all levels.
The study noted that Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services places significant emphasis on using modern technologies to assist individuals with special needs from its inception, through partnerships and mutual cooperation with specialized institutions locally and internationally. This includes collaboration with the Institute of Audiology in Brussels from 1979-1989 to benefit from its expertise in this field.
The study pointed out that the Assistive Technology Center was established in 2014 to organize the delivery of assistive technology services, systematize the work mechanism through services based on scientific research and best global practices, and standardize the provision of assistive technology services across the institution.
The study defined assistive technologies as an integrated system of devices, tools, strategies, and services tailored to the needs and capabilities of individuals with special needs according to their environment and daily tasks, aiming to achieve the highest level of independence. It explained that assistive technology devices are ready-made, modified, or custom-designed products intended to improve or maintain the functional or performance levels of individuals with special needs.
The study detailed the key success factors of assistive technology services, which include scientific references in service provision procedures, having a specialized team, a model for delivering direct and indirect assistive technology services, and funding for these services.
