His Excellency the President of Umm Al-Qura University, Prof. Moaddi bin Muhammad Aal Madh-hab, via the university's visual platform, viewed the opening of the Forum for Persons with Disabilities. The forum was organized by the College of Education in cooperation with the Institute of Consulting Research and Studies and the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education, under the slogan: "Resumption of Better Development Following the COVID-19 Pandemic", on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020.

The forum aimed to educate the community about the concept of disability, enriching professionals and those interested with various lectures on this topic, identifying the reality of people with disabilities, learning how to prepare them to join higher education, in addition to strengthening the partnership between their parents and specialists in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Head of the Department of Special Education at the university, Dr. Abdul-Hadi Al-Dhiyabi, said that the forum provides 10 intensive hours, through its dialog sessions and scientific lectures. The topics covered include: inclusive education for people with disabilities, rehabilitation and empowerment of people with Down syndrome, methods of compensating for the academic loss of students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, how to face the psychological and social pressures of parents of people with hearing disabilities, in addition to discussing the effects of COVID-19 on children with ADHD.

The University President also affirmed the Saudi government’s keenness (may Allah support it) to empower people with disabilities and understand their issues, and its constant endeavor to obtain the best health services. He pointed out the importance of enhancing the self-confidence and abilities of those with disabilities, fully involving them in all aspects of life and development, and removing obstacles and barriers that prevent their potential.

Moreover, human civilization bears witness to the efforts of a large number of people with disabilities who left their scientific and cognitive imprint on history, and their prominent role in the development process, having their names immortalized in the memory of the human renaissance.