DEWA Sponsors AccessAbilities Expo 2016 | Dubai Electricity & Water Authority

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is the strategic sponsor of AccessAbilities Expo, which will be held in Dubai from 8—10 February 2016, to support the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, to make Dubai the world's best city for individuals with special needs and their families by 2020, and is under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Chairman of Dubai Airports. This exhibition will be a good addition to Dubai’s track record in care for individuals with special needs and their integration into society. It also provides a platform for government departments and organisations to identify new smart solutions, technologies and services offered by global institutions. “In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote social service, and the ‘My community... A City for Everyone’ initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, turn Dubai into a fully disability-friendly city by 2020, we are pleased to be the strategic sponsor of the AccessAbilities Expo. DEWA is committed to fulfilling its corporate social responsibility in line with its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, and as part of its strategy to support the UAE Vision 2021 and Dubai Plan 2021 objective to shape an inclusive city that supports cohesive families and communities, forming the bedrock of society,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA. DEWA will showcase on its stand at AccessAbilities Expo some services devoted to individuals with special needs to brief their families on ways of benefiting from it. This exhibition comes at a time when global statistics indicate that globally there are about 700 million people with special needs, including 50 million in the Middle East region alone. DEWA seeks to promote the integration of people with special needs in the community, and provides all requirements for this purpose in its facilities and offices. DEWA has allocated dedicated parking places, and enabled easier wheelchair movement in its offices. It has also launched the ‘Ash'ir’ service that enables individuals with special needs to communicate directly with call centre staff via instant visual conversation using sign language as a means of dialogue, and is the first government organisation in the UAE to launch this service. Earlier, DEWA won the Princess Haya Award for Special Education (PHASE), established by HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to raise the standard of services provided for the care and rehabilitation of individuals with special needs. DEWA’s sponsorship of this event also supports its social services strategy in Dubai, which was recognised in October 2015 with DEWA receiving the MVO 8000 Certification in Social Responsibility, and high score in ISO 26000 Guidelines in Social Responsibility. DEWA constantly supports and sponsors charitable initiatives and events. It annually supports several centres such as the Rashid Centre for the Disabled by sending children with disabilities to perform the Umrah, the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, and helps children with autism by raising funds for the Dubai Autism Centre and supporting its new building. DEWA is also involved in World Down Syndrome Day with a series of activities to show how to deal with people who have this. It sponsors the final run of the Dubai Club for Special Sports, as well as the Fazza Disabled International Championship. DEWA has also donated equipment for the Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled and sponsored the fourth Umrah campaign for its members. DEWA also sponsored the Umrah campaign for the Emirates Association of the Visually Impaired and purchased a bus for the association to transport people with special needs to and from the centre.