Experts call for increased inclusion of poeple with disabilities

Islamabad:Disability rights experts and advocates on Wednesday called for increased public awareness of the difficulties experienced by people with disabilities, and collaboration among stakeholders along with tangible actions to further the cause of disability inclusion.

They were brought together by Serena Hotels here under its public diplomacy initiative, Raabta, to discuss strategies and best practices for fostering a more inclusive society. The panel for discussion titled "Building an Inclusive Society: Advancing Disability Rights and Inclusion" featured a diverse group of speakers. Among them was Sabeen Bilal, a special education expert, who provided valuable insights into educational strategies that support the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream education.

Another panellist, Azima Dhanjee, founder of ConnectHear, highlighted the importance of technology in advancing accessible communication for the deaf community. Fahmina Puri, an inclusion expert and disability advocate, shared her extensive experience in mainstreaming disability across development projects.

Sana Khurshid, a lawyer and disability activist, advocated for disability-inclusive policies, and highlighted her own experiences as a quadriplegic wheelchair user. Haseeb Abbasi, a former Sargent Shriver Global Messenger for Special Olympics, shared his inspiring journey of overcoming challenges and his advocacy for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities.

Aziz Boolani, CEO of Serena Hotels, said his organisation believed in fostering an environment where everyone wa included and valued. "We have ConnectHear app deployed at our reception and restaurants to assist our guests with their communication needs. We're an equal opportunity employer and have multiple associates who identify as persons with disabilities and some of them are here to attend this event," he said. Mr Boolani said by bringing together experts and advocates, his organisation hoped to inspire action and collaboration that would lead to a more inclusive future for all." He said the Raabta initiative continued to support and facilitate meaningful dialogues that drove positive social change and promoted equity across all sectors. "Through events like this, we're reinforcing our dedication to creating platforms for important conversations that contribute to the betterment of society," he said.