Kuwait: Jasour – News Desk
Under the patronage of Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaila, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood, and in partnership with the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait, UNESCO, and with the support of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, Kuwait College of Science and Technology is organizing the first International Conference on Technologies for Persons with Special Needs (ATSN). The conference, themed “Artificial Intelligence in the Service of Equality and Inclusion,” will be held on December 9 and 10, from 9 AM to 4 PM.
It is the first of its kind in Kuwait and the region, focusing on the sciences, research, and development of technologies for persons with special needs, particularly assistive technologies. The conference is chaired by Ghada Al-Taher, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait; Salah Khaled, Director of the UNESCO Office in Qatar; and Professor Khaled Al-Baqain, President of Kuwait College of Science and Technology.
The conference is co-organized by Kuwait University, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, IEEE Kuwait Branch, and Mada Qatar Assistive Technology Center.
The conference celebrates the distinguished participation of activists for special needs in Kuwait, including Special Needs Ambassador, poet, and TV presenter on Kuwait TV, Abdulkarim Al-Anzi; Kuwaiti activist Sara Al-Marhoon; life coach and activist Faisal Al-Mousawi; and clarinetist and activist Abdul Latif Ghazi. The conference includes a series of scientific lectures, educational workshops, an exhibition of companies and organizations specializing in special needs, and a research publications exhibition.
Aligned with Kuwait’s vision of promoting digital transformation and social inclusion, the conference aims to highlight the latest developments in assistive technology for special needs, including innovations in artificial intelligence and robotics. It will gather experts and specialists from around the world.
According to the 2023 World Bank report, one billion people globally, approximately 15% of the population, live with some form of disability. This number is expected to rise to 2 billion people by 2050. Statistics indicate that persons with disabilities face greater social and economic challenges compared to others, making the use of technology to improve their lives crucial.
