BY SACHIN KUMAR
DOHA: Even the inability to see has not deterred blind students from pursuing their dreams. A visit to the ongoing ITU World 2014 at Qatar National Convention Center gives one the opportunity to meet Mohammed Al Fehaid, Muna Al Kuwari and Asmaa Abdurahman at the pavilion of Mada. Their strong determination to do something in life and faces beaming with confidence compel you to believe that they are second to none in what they do.
Mohammed and Muna are Qatari citizens while Asmaa is an Egyptian expatriate and they are part of the Mada team attending the ITU conference.
Mada is a non-profit organisation dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to the world of information and communications technology. The centre provides free training and devices to people with disabilities.
Mohammed has a Twitter account with more than 2,300 followers (and he follows 103 accounts) showing people are eager to hear what he says. A look at his Twitter account shows that he is a regular tweeter and has posted more than 5,000 tweets since 2011, when he opened the account.
Mohammed, a student at Qatar University, was a news presenter on Qatar TV but left that job to pursue higher studies. He wants to be a journalist and is now doing a Mass Communication course.
“It is a profession which will give me opportunity to serve my society,” said Mohammed, explaining why he wants to enter the field of media.
Muna works in the Traffic Department and gives lectures about traffic rules and regulations. She also works as a volunteer for Qatar Society for the Rehabilitation of People with Special Needs and trains members in debating skills. She is also treasurer of Qatar Social and Cultural Center for the Blind. She wants to be a trainer in the field of sustainable development. Like Mohammed, she too is active on social media and has Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Asmaa is studying sociology in Qatar University and wants to get a master’s degree and a doctorate. Fond of classic English novels, she is active on Twitter and other social media sites. She keeps a tab on current affairs through her phone, which has inbuilt software to help her read text.
Mohammed, Muna and Asmaa read books and other material on their special devices, which have Braille keyboards. Technology is helping them fulfil their dreams and Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Center) is helping them and other persons with special needs in their journey. “Every day, the Mada team works closely with disabled people, caregivers, and professionals by providing expert advice and assessment on a wide variety of assistive technologies that cater to persons with physical, hearing, visual, and learning disabilities,” said Ahmed Habib, Head of Communications and Awareness, Mada.
“Opening a virtual door onto a world of information and opportunities provides a powerful tool to disabled people who are continuously overcoming social and economic barriers. By placing assistive technologies in classrooms, workplaces, and homes throughout Qatar, people with disabilities will be able to work, attend class or connect with peers from around the world,” he said.THE PENINSULA
