Under the patronage of the Minister of Social Affairs and Minister of State Economic Affairs Ms. Hind AlSabeeh, the Kuwaiti Hearing Disability Association held the first forum under the slogan of “Sign Language serving Hearing Impaired” in cooperation with the Psychology Department at the College of Social Sciences- Kuwait University, during the period 22-23/4/2018. It was held in the conference hall in Sheikh Abdullah AlJaber AlSabah Theater- Shuwaikh Campus, with attendance of Sheikha Shaikha AlAbdullah AlSabah (Mother of the Disabled) and the poet Abdulkareem AlEnezi (Ambassador of the Disabled) and significant figures from Gulf States, along with representatives from associations for the support of people with disabilities.
The forum aims to draw the attention to researchers and specialists in the field of Psychology and Sociology to people with hearing disabilities and improve the quality of their lives in the State of Kuwait through the presentation of programs, strategies and scientific interventions studied through work papers provided by academic professors from Kuwait University and specialists from institutions and organizations related to the field of hearing disability.
On this occasion, the Minister delivered a speech in which she said: “it is my pleasure to meet with you today to participate in this forum, which highlights the issues of people with hearing disabilities organized by one of the civil society organizations, is the Kuwaiti Hearing Disability Association.” Pointing to the fact that this indicates that the interest of people with disabilities is not limited to the official interest of the government, but also a community interest. This attention is evident in the private sector as well, which completes the partnership between all aspects of development in the country, the government sectors, private, and civil society.
On his part, the Dean of College of Social Sciences Humoud Al-Qashan said that Kuwait has a law that does not differentiate between those with special needs and the other citizens, adding that we are all partners in the development of this country. He called for cooperation with the President of the Kuwaiti Hearing Disability Association Dr. Amthal AlHuwailah for enabling this group in society to integrate into society in all its forms. He pointed out that the College of Social Sciences opens its doors and halls to develop the sign language in order to serve the community in cooperation with the Association.
On his part, the Head of the Department of Psychology Owayed Sultan Al-Mishaan stressed on the importance of the sign language in the service of the deaf as a way of communication between them and the members of the society. He pointed out that Kuwait facilitates all their requirements in all educational or cultural fields and shed light on the curricula that fit this disability.
For her part, the President of the Kuwaiti Hearing Disability Association, Dr. Amthal AlHuwailah, thanked Kuwait University for hosting the activities of this forum, noting that the Kuwaiti Hearing Disability Association has taken on many responsibilities; the most important is the dissemination and awareness of the society members with hearing impairment and related cultural, social and educational aspects. She also announced about the cooperation with the Private Education Department to organize sign language courses.
In addition, the forum also held an exhibition, in which several relevant parties from various sectors of the State of Kuwait participated, on top of the sessions of the forum and the workshops presented.