DUBAI // Children with disabilities fixed solar panels on the roofs of toy homes, used robots to mirror their movements, smart pens to connect to the internet and watched a 3D printer operate as part of a project to fuse technology with teaching.
About 150 children with disabilities will use an innovation centre launched on Thursday by the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) at the Dubai Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled that aims to help them understand the changes taking place in the world, from sustainability to smart technology.
“We are trying to improve their level of understanding of services available outside. By adopting new tools, they will understand how to use technology,” said Khawla Al Mehairi, Dewa’s vice president for marketing and corporate communication.
“They are the prospective clients of government services and being engaged in these activities will help them learn and grow.”
The launch was attended by Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with disabilities, Najla bin Mohammed Al Awar, Cabinet Minister and Minister for Community Development, and Saeed Al Tayer, Dewa’s chief executive.
The Dewa team began working with teachers at the centre over the past year to understand what was needed.
The centre teaches the alphabet, numbers, music and handicraft to children with physical disabilities, slow learners, students with Down Syndrome and autism.
“There is so much technology in the world today and this will help our children to be part of the community,” said Mariam Al Blooshi, the centre’s manager.
The colourful and expansive innovation centre room is divided into sections with a fantasy corner where children drew on boards beamed up to a large smart board linked to the internet.
Others worked with magnetic building blocks, moved solar powered cars near shelves stacked with large yellow cement mixers and orange tractors.
White-and-red robots with blinking lights will be used to interact with autistic students by performing simple movements such as shaking hands and saying a few words in Arabic and English.
Another corner has two 3D printing units to be used by teachers to print out surgical casts so children understand medical advances. Teachers will also print out alphabets, numbers or shapes for use in class.
On a large television screen, Dewa provides conservation tips asking students to shut off a tap while brushing their teeth or keeping the air conditioner at 24° Celsius.
An animated video urges those with speech and hearing impairments to use the authority’s Ash’ir (to signal) video chat services to communicate with call centre staff using sign language.
rtalwar@thenational.ae
