The Disability and Integration Services Center in the Community Service and Continuing Education Deanship (CSCED) and the Student Activities Unit in the Student Affairs Deanship at the Islamic University, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development and Palestinian universities, hosted the first Palestinian forum, “People of Determination.” The forum witnessed the presence of Prof. Dr. Nasser Farhat, IUG President; Dr. Alaeddin Al-Jomasi, CSCED Dean; Dr. Saed Al-Ghorra, Student Affairs Dean; Dr. Muhammad Abu Ghoneim, Director General of Welfare and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Social Development, Prof. Dr. Osama Zain El-Din, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Al-Azhar University; Dr. Khaled Qashkash, Assistant Dean of Postgraduate Studies at Al-Quds Open University, Mr. Mahmoud Zamil, Director of Student Affairs at Al-Aqsa University, members of the academic and administrative staff in the universities, , and persons with disabilities.
The ceremony included a speech by Dr. Khaled bin Ali Al-Naim, President of the Arab Union of the Blind (ARUB) in Qatar.
Opening session
The IUG president stressed the distinction of the Islamic University by having an Irada Center that includes a cadre of people with disabilities in order to integrate them into society and train them in various trades and skills, such as smart phone maintenance, fashion design, and various handicrafts. Prof. Dr. Farhat indicated that there are special projects that provide all their needs, directing his speech to the people of determination and saying that they are “at the heart of universities, and they have respect and appreciation equal to the rest of the students.”
Best Services
Dr. Ghoneim said that Palestinian universities were asked to improve the services they offer to people with disabilities in Palestinian universities and civil society institutions. He said that the ministry is always working to remove barriers and give people with disabilities the best services possible. He also said that the ministry has agreements and understandings with other institutions to make services easier for people with disabilities.
Creativity and Inspiration in the Forum
The Activities Committee of the Islamic University was keen to involve talented people with disabilities, as the forum included several creative performances and inspiring success stories for students of different universities, including: the success story of Muhammad Abu Daqqa, a graduate of the Islamic University; a speech by the blind Wassim Radi from Al-Azhar University; the success story of Haya Qouta with hearing disabilities; a poetic performance from Al-Quds Open University; and film material from Al-Aqsa University. It also included the opening of a handicrafts exhibition for people with disabilities.
