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Doha: The First Arab Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Conference: Scientific Perspectives for the future of Inclusive Education in Arab Countries, organized by Qatar University (QU) via videoconferencing, began yesterday with the participation of a group of experts and researchers in several universities and higher education institutions in the Arab world.
The two-day conference will discuss the latest discoveries in brain-based education sciences, learning sciences, accessibility, assistive technology, curriculum design, scientific foundations and practical applications of UDL, technological tools that support inclusive and flexible education, methods that support all students, the concept of comprehensive learning design, ways to provide flexibility in ways to provide information and ways of responding to students or demonstrating knowledge and skills, as well as ways to share students to reduce barriers to the process of explanation, provides appropriate academic support and maintains high academic achievement for all students, including students with disabilities.
The conference also seeks to present a comprehensive scientific approach to the process of teaching and learning from the various disciplines concerned in supporting the different dimensions of education and highlighting experiences and exchanging experiences between Arab universities in the field of integrating students with disabilities within the framework of the comprehensive learning design, as it aims to introduce the principles of inclusive design for learning as a framework Scientific aims to advance education in the Arab world, raise awareness in the field of architectural accessibility, digital accessibility, assistive technology, encourage scientific research in the field of UDL, and provide practical solutions to advance UDL programs in the Arab world.
In his speech on the occasion, QU President Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham affirmed the university’s interest in people with special needs, indicating that this interest stems from their basic rights guaranteed by law and placed by the state at the top of its priorities, which enables people with special needs to live their lives normally, especially since the university has provided to students with special needs both in the design of buildings that make them access to university lectures and facilities easily and easily or through the preparation of technical designs that involve them in any programs offered by QU.
In 2007, QU established a special needs section that was then developed in 2014 to become a center for integrating and supporting people with special needs at the university and is concerned with organizing this important conference, reiterating that this great interest in people with special needs is part of the overall design of learning, which has become a key part of legislation and laws to include all students.
