Under the patronage of Professor Ahmed El-Minshawy, President of Assiut University, the Faculty of Specific Education witnessed the launch of the activities of the "Together... For Sustainable Communication", which was organized by the Sustainable Development Unit in cooperation with the Vice Dean of the Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs Sector at the College, to promote effective and sustainable communication with people with disabilities, under the supervision of Dr. Mohamed Adawi, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, Dr. Yasmine Al-Kahki, Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Saleh Mahmoud Ismail, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at the University, and Dr. Mohamed Abdel Basit, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs and Head of the Sustainable Development Unit.
Professor El-Minshawy stressed that the university places at the forefront of its priorities supporting community initiatives that contribute to building human beings and promoting the values of solidarity and inclusion, pointing out that caring for people with disabilities comes within the framework of an integrated vision that aims to empower and integrate them effectively within the university community, and provide a supportive educational environment that provides them with equal opportunities for creativity and excellence.
Professor Mohamed Ahmed Adawy explained that the initiative comes within the framework of the sector's plan to enhance means of communication with people with special needs, build bridges of cooperation and integration, and overcome the challenges they face in achieving effective communication, in addition to spreading community awareness of inclusion and empowerment issues, and supporting community innovation and capacity building, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt's Vision 2030, praising the vital role of the Faculty of Specific Education in implementing such qualitative initiatives.
The activities witnessed the presence of Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Hamad, Professor at the College of Education and a member of the Executive Committee of the Center for Sustainable Development, Dr. Wajdi Refaat Nakhleh, former Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education, Dr. Rehab Ahmed Zaki, Assistant Professor in the Department of Art Education and Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Unit, Dr. Salwa Ali Mohamed, Senior Teacher and PhD in Special Needs Science at Al-Amal School, and Mr. Ahmed Farraj, Secretary of the Faculty, along with a group of faculty members and their assistants, members of the Sustainable Development Unit, employees, and a crowd of students. Among them are students with special needs.
For her part, Dr. Yasmine Al-Kahki stressed that the college pays great attention to the implementation of qualitative initiatives that support its societal role, noting that the "Together... For Sustainable Communication" contributes to the integration of efforts between faculty members, students and community institutions, in a way that enhances the culture of positive communication with various groups, especially people with special needs, pointing out the college's keenness to provide an educational environment that stimulates creativity, which supports the preparation of graduates capable of effectively contributing to community service.
During the events, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Basit, in his lecture entitled "Subcommittees of the Vice Deanship for Community Service and Environmental Development and People with Disabilities Sector", reviewed the importance of forming subcommittees as an organizational mechanism that enhances the efficiency of institutional work, and contributes to the effective planning and follow-up of activities, in a way that supports the quality of services provided to people with disabilities and achieves their sustainable integration within the university community.
In her lecture "Proposals for the Development of Communication Methods with People with Disabilities", Dr. Rehab Ahmed Zaki also addressed a number of applied mechanisms aimed at improving the quality of communication, stressing the importance of employing modern technology and multimedia, and developing the skills of those in charge of the educational process, in a way that contributes to providing a supportive environment that takes into account individual differences and promotes a culture of inclusion.
In the same context, Dr. Salwa Ali Mohammed, during her lecture "Communicating with People with Disabilities", stressed that effective communication is a key pillar to build a more inclusive and equitable society, stressing the importance of respecting individual differences and understanding the needs of each category, in addition to spreading community awareness of methods of human interaction, and training individuals on supportive communication skills, in a way that contributes to empowering people with disabilities and enhancing their effective participation in society.
