Dewa opens innovation centre for special needs kids

It will train students with disabilities in modern technologies

Anew innovation centre dedicated to developing skills of children with special needs through their interaction with modern technologies was launched by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) yesterday.

The first-of-its-kind centre in the region, now part of the Dubai Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled in Al Ghusais, will enable thousands of students with various disabilities across the country to unlock their potential and prove their capabilities in society in the future, a Dewa official has said.

The facility, launched as part of the Year of Giving, is aimed at encouraging innovation and creativity among children with disabilities and integrating them into society.

The Dewa Innovation Centre was officially inaugurated by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The opening was attended by Najla Mohammad Al Awar, Minister of Community Development, Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa, and other senior officials.

“It took us six months to establish such an engaging platform,” said Khowla Al Muhairi, vice-president, Marketing and Corporate Communication at Dewa. “The goal was to ensure this segment was included in the society, they understand what is happening at the level of the government and how the government is working to improve their services through adopting new technologies.”

Al Muhairi said as a start, the centre will provide over 150 students with disabilities with the required training, but will later start receiving children with special needs from across other centres in the UAE.

The learning facility, which includes robots, smart boards, a 3D printer, smart books and screens and other interactive equipment, will work to develop creative, academic and behavioural knowledge of students with disabilities.