Zayed Higher Organization For Humanitarian

Care, Special Needs & Minors’ Affairs
 

مؤسســـة زايـــد العليـــا للرعايـــة الإنسانيــة

وذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة وشؤون القُصّر

Oral Presentation Submission Form

Registration Form

Conference Programme(Arabic)

ACCESS Abu Dhabi 2009, the Fourth International Conference on Special Needs and Inclusion will be held From March 17th to 19th, 2009 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This premium annual conference provides a forum in which to present research results, shared experiences, best practice in all areas related to the educational and social inclusion of people with special needs and disabilities in different parts of the world. 

The Special Needs Sector at Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs & Minors Affairs is the organizer of the conference. The conference is blessed by the support of key institutes such as The British University in Dubai, Abu Dhabi Educational Council, UAE Ministry of Education and UAE Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Department of the Service.

ACCESS Abu Dhabi 2009 builds on the success of previous ZHO conferences in this series  held in Abu Dhabi in 2005,2006 & 2007.  ACCESS Abu Dhabi 2009 will include a highly selective plenary program for prominent presentations, accompanied by posters, workshops, and invited keynote speakers. This year ACCESS AD 2009 will also include a Book Fair and International School Fair to offer maximum support for families and professional in the field of special needs education and disability. 

During the distinguished event, Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs & Minor Affairs will gather together the key stakeholders in the field of special and inclusive education once again as yet another stepping stone towards the improvement of lives of people with special needs and their families in the region. It is  believed  that all people, regardless of disability, should have the right to a permanent and stable relationship within the family structure and their local community. To accomplish this, families should receive the supports necessary to maintain their unity, integrity, and competence. Therefore, this year the focus of the conference is on family support. This will include practical advice for family to support members with special needs and disabilities, such as engaging and using multi-professional networks to enable   them to be more effective within the family unit and the local community.

We welcome submissions that report on innovations in the field of family support for inclusive education purposes and social interaction for people with special needs and disabilities, including but not limited to the following topics:

1. Family support, mainstreaming, multi agency support for empowering people with special needs and disabilities;
2. Role of families in driving the implementation  of inclusive education and best practices from round the world in the following areas:
   1.  Role of families in adopting,  training and using  new technologies and devices for inclusive education;
   2. Training for families for educational and health purposes;
   3. Role of families as members of support groups and advocacy agencies;
   4. Role of families in overcoming challenges and barriers
3. Success stories related to families of people with disabilities;
4. Sport and recreational activities to empower people with disabilities;
5. Mental health and disability issues from a family support perspectives
6. Families, culture, inclusive education and advocacy;
7. Innovative ideas and project in the area of voluntary work for empowering people with disabilities purposes;
8. Support in areas such as respite care, specialized day care, adaptive equipment, modifications to make the home safer or more accessible, transportation, future panning, home health care, specialized clothing and diets, recreational activities and equipment, therapies, dental care, and medical care.
9. Bridging the gap between theory and practice in supporting families of people with disabilities;
10. Policy issues and family support;
11. Research findings related to evaluation of family support in the field of disability;
12. Attitudes, social issues and implications of social inclusion of people with disabilities;
13. International positions and philosophies towards the role of families and  family support in securing rights for people with disabilities; inclusive education;
14. The role of families in assessment and planning interventions;  
15. Family members as teaching assistants and support for learning team members in inclusive setting.

Abstracts:
 

The abstracts may be presented as a 30 minute oral talk or as an illustrated poster during the event. The abstract for research presentations typically states the hypothesis, tools used in research or investigation, data collected, and a summary or interpretation of the data. Abstracts for shared experiences states meaningful inspiring experiences supported by evidences such as photographs, and/or videos to help participants to appreciated role of families in the development of people with disabilities in your country/district. For poster presentation we will need a sketch of your poster. All abstracts are accepted via e-mail attachments and will be peer-reviewed for their relevance, value, and quality. Successful abstracts will be published before the event as conference proceedings.  Participants with accepted abstracts will be notified according to the dates below. Please e-mail your approximately 400 words abstract to eman.gaad@buid.ac.ae  using the designated submission form via the website not later than 15th January 2009.
 

Conference Website: www.buid.ac.ae/accessAD2009

Poster presentations will run during break and lunch time to allow maximum participation. Only one presenter per poster is permitted. Posters should include research methods and outcomes in a reader friendly clear manner. Images and photographs are encouraged. It is possible to submit a presentation and a poster at ACCESS AD 2009.

Poster presentations usually consist of affixing the research poster to a portable wall with the researcher in attendance answering questions posed by passing colleagues. The poster is required to be approximately 1 x 1.5 meters in dimension. You must insure that your poster is illuminated and ready for presentation on arrival to Abu Dhabi. Posters must be in place before the opening of the conference and they must stay on the allocated boards until the last session of the last day. Please e-mail your approximately 400 words poster abstract to eman.gaad@buid.ac.ae  using the designated submission form via the website not later than 15th January 2009.

Conference Website: www.buid.ac.ae/accessAD2009

Book Fair:

ACCESS 2009 offers an opportunity for publishers to exhibit up to date texts, learning materials, research in the field of Special educational Needs and Inclusion. Successful applicants have the opportunity to network within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and support the Executive Council Strategic Plan to introduce international standards. If you are a publisher with an interest in this, please contact Miss Kathleen Austrin advisor@zayedhicare.ae

International School Fair:

ACCESS 2009 provides an opportunity for Specialist Special Needs Schools to share their expertise and availability with professionals, parents and pupils from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Schools/Colleges specializing in Higher Education for Deaf, Blind and Physical needs are particularly welcome. Please contact Miss Kathleen Austrin for further details and how to take part in this exciting opportunity on advisor@zayedhicare.ae

The conference organizers as well as deadlines for the various types of 

submissions are listed below. You will need to include a very short biographical statement (no more than100 words) in your form. Conference Website: www.buid.ac.ae/accessAD2009

Registration fees: Fees are waived by Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors Affairs to enable participants from all areas of interest to take part and enjoy the conference. However, you must fill in a registration form if you wish to attend. Registration Forms are accessible from conference website: www.buid.ac.ae/accessAD2009

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 Important Dates

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October  29, 2008 : 1st  call for participation 

December 25, 2008 : 2nd  and final  call for participation

January 15, 2009: Deadline for all presentation and poster submissions

January 15, 2009: Deadline for Workshop Proposals

February 10, 2009: Final date for notification of accepted presentations, posters, and workshop proposals

February 15, 2009 : Provisional programme 

March 1, 2009: Final programme 

March 17, 2009 : ACCESS Abu Dhabi 2009 conference opening ceremony (evening).

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 Organization ACCESS Abu Dhabi 2009

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Conference Chairs:

General Chair: Mariam Saif Al Qubaisi

Head of Special Needs Sector, Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors Affairs

Conference Programme Director

Dr. Eman Gaad, British University in Dubai

Eman.gaad@buid.ac.ae

Educational Consultant and book and school fair facilitator:

Miss Kathleen Austrin

Special Needs Advisor, Special Needs Sector, Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors Affairs

advisor@zayedhicare.ae

Conference Facilitator:

Hanadi Al-Jafari, Educational Coordinator, Special Needs Sector, Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors Affairs

hanadi_aljafari@yahoo.com

We look forward to seeing you at ACCESS Abu Dhabi 2009.

Sincerely,

Dr Eman Gaad 

Conference programme Director