KUWAIT: The Women’s Institute for Development and Peace (WIDP) organized the fifth edition of the Kuwait Deaf Day Forum under the theme “The Cry of the Deaf and Kuwait Vision 2035,” highlighting the importance of empowering individuals with hearing disabilities and enhancing their integration into all sectors of society. Held on May 8 under the patronage and attendance of Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, the forum took place at the Arab Center for Educational Research for the Gulf States. The event resulted in a set of comprehensive recommendations aimed at upholding the rights of the hearing-impaired in education, healthcare, and employment.
WIDP President Kawthar Al-Jouan told KUNA on Sunday that the forum put forth general, sector-specific, and health-related recommendations designed to support the inclusion of the hearing-impaired and affirm their right to self-determination. Al-Jouan stressed the importance of expanding educational opportunities for the deaf community, including access to Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). She also called for the creation of employment pathways tailored to this capable and distinguished segment of society.
The forum featured four dialogue sessions with the participation of experts, specialists, and policymakers from Kuwait and Bahrain. Key recommendations included the employment of hearing-impaired individuals, admission of deaf students into the College of Basic Education, official recognition of Kuwaiti Sign Language as a second language, and revising school hours to align with public education needs. Additional proposals focused on utilizing retired teachers within the Special Education Department and appointing qualified sign language interpreters, with calls to provide financial rewards for their services.
On the healthcare front, recommendations emphasized the importance of early detection of hearing loss, proper use of hearing aids, and granting individuals the right to seek medical treatment abroad when local options are unavailable. Al-Jouan concluded the forum by honoring participants from the Ministry of Education, the Educational Research Center for the Gulf States, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ Committee for Promoting Moderation, the Dean of the College of Education at Kuwait University, and the Director of the Special Education Schools Department, in recognition of their contributions to the forum’s success. — KUNA
