DOHA: Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Center) yesterday unveiled an assistive technology portal to better serve the needs of people with disabilities in Qatar and throughout the Arabic speaking world.
The portal (http://madaportal.org) is an information packed bi-lingual digital platform that will help people make better, more informed choices about Assistive Technology. The portal is the first of its kind in the Arab world and contains detailed information about a wide range of technologies that help connect people with learning, physical, visual and hearing disabilities to the world of ICT.
The portal has been developed entirely in house by the Mada team, and comes as part of a process of providing information resources about assistive technology, particularly in the Arabic language.
In addition to a searchable database that provides product information, availability and approximate price, the portal also offers a wide range of fact sheets, video training materials, a glossary of assistive technology terms, as well as a blog that will connect people with disabilities to the digital realm.
In addition to providing assessment, training and technology provision services for free in Qatar, Mada also works closely with e-Accessibility experts in the region to develop platforms that are accessible to people with different abilities. As such, the portal, which also has a functional mobile version, has been built according to the guidelines set out by the World Accessibility Initiative (WAI).
During the media launch event that took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology yesterday, attendees were given an opportunity to try out the new resource that will inevitably become a valuable tool to the Arabic speaking communities throughout the world.
“Creating a dynamic repository of information in the Arabic language with so much detail is a tremendous resource for people with disabilities, parents, caregivers and professionals who are committed to using ICT as a means of improving quality of life and creating better opportunities in the areas of education and employment in Qatar and beyond,” said Maha Al Mansouri, Deputy CEO of Mada.
“Having a center like Mada in the Arab world enables manufacturers of Assistive Technology to provide relevant and meaningful products and tools to Arabic speakers wherever they may be. The development of an AT portal of this size in the Arabic language will be a huge boost to everybody’s efforts in supporting the needs of digitally excluded people with disabilities throughout the world,” said David Ditker, president of Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA).
The Peninsula
