- Title: Dubai hosts tech expo for people with special needs
- Date: 11th February 2016
- Summary: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (FEBRUARY 10, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BOYS IN WHEELCHAIR PLAYING BASKETBALL VARIOUS OF GIRLS IN WHEELCHAIR PLAYING PING PONG VARIOUS OF MAN SHOWCASING HIGH-TECH WHEELCHAIRS THAT CAN MOVE FORWARD, BACKWARDS, AND SIDEWAYS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GENERAL CO-ORDINATOR AT THE ACCESSABILITIES EXPO, GHASSAN AMHAZ, SAYING: "The goal behind this expo, which is considered the biggest of its kind in the Middle East, is to attract the best techniques and modern technologies to help a large segment of society in the Middle East whose numbers reach approximately 50 million people with disabilities, to help them live a better life, to help them integrate fully into society and allow them to express themselves freely and without consequences." A SELECTION OF THE LATEST DISABLED FRIENDLY CARS IN THE INNOVATION AND PROTOTYPE PHASE VARIOUS OF MAN GETTING OFF HIS WHEELCHAIR AND INTO A FULLY AUTOMATED SMART CAR AND DRIVING VARIOUS OF SMART CAR VARIOUS OF STAFF CARRYING A CHILD INTO THE SMART CAR/CHILD DRIVING SMART CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOTHER OF THREE WHEELCHAIR BOUND CHILDREN, FAWZIYA HASAN, SAYING: "We insisted on coming to this exhibition because we have three children with special needs. We wanted to see what new techniques are out there that serve them (the children) in their (disability). There are so many things out there, smart applications, equipment, home gadgets that serve the kids' needs." VARIOUS OF MASSOUD HATAMI, A DISABLED VISITOR AT THE EXPO TESTING OUT THE NEW ELBEE DISABLED VEHICLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN VISITOR TO THE EXPO, MASSOUD HATAMI, SAYING: "Technology is changing the culture. The culture in Arab world, in Middle East generally, in Iran also the same, people that has some disability are shy of going into the market, into the open, to the society and even their families they are shy to take them out because, because of the disability." VARIOUS OF ELBEE VEHICLE ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELBEE SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER, LADISLAV BRAZDIL, SAYING: "We are living in a world full of great opportunities. We are living in a world that is being transformed by new technologies and I see the trend there that people with disabilities are now being a part of the common community and there are many things that are being built or created or designed for these people and I'm really happy to see that in the world." VARIOUS OF WOMEN TESTING OUT AN AUTOMATED MACHINE FOR THE DISABLED
- Embargoed: 26th February 2016 12:21
- Keywords: Dubai UAE disabilities disability expo technology
- Location: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- City: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001441M6OL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dubai's first disability expo attracted around 150 local and international companies, showcasing the latest technologies and innovations aimed at assisting people with special needs to live a better and more comfortable life.
According to event organisers of the 'AccessAbilities Expo', which runs from 9-11 February, there are some 50 million people with special needs in the Middle East.
Expo general co-ordinator Ghassan Ahmaz said he hopes the event will spread awareness about people with disabilities and introduce technologies to the region that will help break taboos and fully integrate them into society.
"The goal behind this expo, which is considered the biggest of its kind in the Middle East, is to attract the best techniques and modern technologies to help a large segment of society in the Middle East whose numbers reach approximately 50 million people with disabilities, to help them live a better life, to help them integrate fully into society and allow them to express themselves freely and without consequences," he said.
Technological innovations on display at the convention included wheelchairs and a variety of vehicles that give wheelchair bound individuals independent mobility.
For Fawziya Hassan, a mother of three children with special needs, the event was an eye opener, showcasing products and services that she says will improve her children's quality of life.
"We wanted to see what new techniques are out there that serve them (the children) in their (disability). There are so many things out there, smart applications, equipment, home gadgets that serve the kids needs," she said.
Two cars designed for people with special needs were among the highlights of the three day event.
One of the vehicles on show is a fully automated car by UAE based DigiRobotics. It has no steering, no pedals, a seat that twists outside of the car to allow individuals to easily climb in, and a fully automated guiding system that drives the vehicle to its destination.
The Elbee gasoline run car, already fit for the open road, does not require an individual to get out of the wheelchair at all.
Upon purchase, the vehicle is fitted to the owner's specific wheelchair and has an automated ramp that pulls the wheelchair into the car and allows the individual to drive without ever having to get off their wheelchair.
Iranian visitor, Massoud Hatami, who has been wheelchair bound for 33 years after suffering severe injuries in a car crash, said such innovations will help change the culture in the Middle East, making it more tolerant of people with special needs.
"Technology is changing the culture. The culture in Arab world, in Middle East generally, in Iran also the same, people that has some disability are shy of going into the market, into the open, to the society and even their families they are shy to take them out because, because of the disability,'' said Hatami.
Elbee's marketing director Ladislav Brazdil, said people with special needs are benefiting from new technologies and innovations that are enabling them to do things and go places that their disabilities once prevented.
"We are living in a world full of great opportunities. We are living in a world that is being transformed by new technologies and I see the trend there that people with disabilities are now being apart of the community and there are many things that are being built or created or designed for these people and I'm really happy to see that in the world," he said.
The expo is part of a new government initiative, announced in 2015, to make Dubai a fully disability friendly city by 2020. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None