Services for Educational Development Research and Awareness Foundation showcases creative works of artists with disabilities at Abu Dhabi Art 2015

ABU DHABI 26th November 2015 (WAM) --- 'Abu Dhabi is a barrier free inclusive society where everyone is welcome to live in dignity and flourish as per one's ability'. This was the clear message SEDRA Foundation for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities under the patronage of Sheikha Aljazia bint Saif Al Nahyan floated through a wide range of activities interactive workshops and creative artworks by the artists with disabilities showcased at Abu Dhabi Art 2015 which concluded on Saturday night 21st November at Manarat Al Saadiyat.

It was for the second consecutive year that the Services for Educational Development Research and Awareness (SEDRA) Foundation collaborated with Tourism and Culture Authority Abu Dhabi (TCA) to assist in bringing forth the best of Abu Dhabi community talents and skills at play to make the 7th Abu Dhabi Art an unprecedented success.

Reem Al Fahim CEO of the SEDRA said "Thanks to this collaboration between the Authority and the Foundation one of the unique features added to the current edition of this increasingly largest annual Art Exhibition in the region is its 'disability-friendliness' at all levels.' 'A week before the opening date' she pointed out 'SEDRA gave extensive training to all the event organizing team members and service coordinators focusing on the rights of persons with disabilities disability etiquette and how best to welcome a guest with disability."

Quoting the founding chairperson of the initiative Sheikha Aljazia bint Saif Al Nahyan she further added "We at SEDRA are committed to support the UAE Vision 2021 on the one hand and Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 on the other for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDG) which necessitate every person in the community should be equally included and enabled to fully participate right from the development process up to sharing the outcomes. Hence in our 5 key service areas: Education Community Awareness Family Support Employment and Research our efforts are mainly aimed at creating a 'cultural shift' that is to move from a culture of 'social care' to the 'culture of social development' within the framework of UN CRPD and UAE Federal Laws 29/2006 and 14/2009 concerning the rights of persons with disabilities."

A real evidence to this 'cultural shift' in the making was SEDRA Booth No. 8 at the Community Gardens in Manarat Al Saadiyat where one could see as many as 20 artists with disabilities along with many other supporters from the same category at work. They were actively engaged in: welcoming the visitors showing live art conducting interactive workshops recording the event as professional photographers and videographers; thus asserting the fact to the world that 'we are enabled and empowered' and 'nothing for us without us'! The immediate impact of this 'grass roots level inclusive experience' was overwhelming. A large number of art enthusiasts from UAE Bahrain France and other countries bought the portraits made by the artists with disabilities. Meanwhile over a hundred deeply impressed by the prevalent spirit of the "inclusive movement" joined the artists with disabilities on the spot in a live production of a king-size canvas portraying dynamic community art. Many could not believe that the high quality Emirati inspired expressive artworks of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi Skyline Emirati family traditional ornamentals...etc. are created by those who have a disability! During the last two days of the Abu Dhabi Art SEDRA team in cooperation with Mawaheb Dubai Amanah Health Care for Rehab and Art Therapy International Center (ATIC) organized four interactive hands-on learning workshops. The famous Emirati artist with autism Abdullah Lutfi taught the spell bound participants how to become a cartoonist of Emirati lifestyle. While Salah Shaheen took them on a fascinating journey of producing art work through eye movements using the latest Eye gaze technology. Yet in another two sessions participants explored the mysteries of art therapy and how one can be creative even with a physical or intellectual disability. Moreover SEDRA team also facilitated guided tours for students with disabilities from several special care centers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi along with their families to the fabulous Art Exhibition packed with the world class masterpieces of creative and innovative artwork.

In view of the International Day of Persons with Disability (IDPD) which falls on 3rd December SEDRA and TCA have also launched an art competition for youth to support the UNESCO-led global campaign #DrawDisabilty! Referring to this Reem Al Fahim said: 'there are two main goals: to encourage dialogue and raise awareness on disability and related issues among youth; and to create a global art project focused on disability such as 'making cities accessible to all'.

In this connection she congratulated Mohamed Adnan from Abu Dhabi who has been shortlisted as one of the best 100 finalists of the #DrawDisability international competition amongst thousands of contestants from around the world. His drawing will be displayed in an exhibition at the United Nations headquarters in New York during the International Disability Day Celebrations. "We are so proud that one of our own got this global recognition which will definitely ignite and inspire other young minds to think innovatively for creating a barrier free world" she said.