(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Oman's first ever symposium on assistive technology will begin on Tuesday at Sultan Qaboos University's (SQU) College of Nursing.Assistive technology is used by individuals with disabilities to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. It includes devices like walkers and wheelchairs, as well as hardware, software and peripherals that assist people with disabilities.The symposium will focus on assistive technology as an educational and rehabilitative tool with emphasis on neuro-developmental growth of the disabled.Experts have been invited to share their expertise in improving services to the disabled and providing support and training to their families.The opening day will have a workshop for SQU professionals.From Wednesday till December 24, the concluding day, workshops will be conducted for parents of children with disabilities, teachers in special need schools, professionals and doctors. All the workshops are being organised by Al Amal Association for Intellectual Disabilities and will be held at different venues at SQU, the Disabled Welfare Centre and the Intellectual school.Aisha Baabood, a lecturer at SQU and one of the organisers said, ''As an educated Omani citizen and mother of a disabled child, I'm obliged to act as a catalyst for change to serve the community.''Therefore, I strive to create engaging experiences that inspire actions. I would like to thank Tariq Jawad al Khabori, activist for rights of the disabled, for his devotion and commitment to serve the disabled and for assisting us in this noble cause.''''The experts invited include Panteleimon Makris, an expert in assistive technology who is also consultant at the United Nations Development Program; Dr Mohammed al Qattami, CEO of the Kuwait Dyslexia Association and Yiannis Chatizidikos, an expert in neuro-development science,'' Widad al Hashmi, a lecturer at SQU and another organiser said.
