Accessabilities Expo Honours Etisalat for Making the Event a Success

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, presented a token of appreciation to Etisalat for its strong support and participation as the official telecom partner of the third AccessAbilities Expo held in November last year.

Abdullah Salem Al Mana, General Manager, Etisalat, Dubai Region, who received the appreciation award on behalf of Etisalat, at an honouring ceremony in Dubai, said: “We are pleased to be recognised as one of the strategic partners of AccessAbilities Expo, which is in line with Etisalat’s overall strategy and vision of ‘Driving the Digital Future to Empower Societies’ to get the best in technologies and services to improve their lives, integrate them in the society and enable them to overcome their daily challenges. The event is aligned with our corporate social responsibility strategy to support people of determination and facilitate their integration in communities.”

AccessAbilities Expo, a global platform that reflects the aspirations of over 50 million people of determination across the Middle East, was held on 5-7 November 2019 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Etisalat’s continuous support of the People of Determination falls in line with its long-established Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy of extending its reach, offers and services across the community. With its numerous efforts and partnerships Etisalat has always supported ‘People of Determination’ by helping them integrate into society and increase their role in the community.

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Etisalat has harnessed the power of its advanced IT and communications technologies to provide discounted offers and special packages and services to people of determination. This has been clearly demonstrated in the advanced technologies Etisalat showcased at its stand during last year’s GITEX Technology Week.

WheeM-i (Wheelchairs Mobility Interface), a “wheel-on,” semi-autonomous electric vehicle that makes traveling around cities easier for people with lightweight manual wheelchairs, made its world premiere at Etisalat’s stand at last year’s GITEX. BrightSign, created by Saudi tech innovator and inventor Hadeel Ayoub, uses assistive technology to facilitate communication for individuals with speech disability.

In previous editions of GITEX, Etisalat demonstrated the innovative Mind rockets, an assistive technology that targets the hearing-impaired providing instant translation in different sign languages for websites, mobile apps, YouTube videos, etc. Virtual bionics focused on patients having missing limbs taking them to a virtual world where they can see actual hands giving their physicians better opportunities to assess their situation for better therapy.

Etisalat showcased the world’s first mass-producible, micro-braille smartwatch and smart glass for the blind. The DOT Braille Smart Watch is lightweight and offers flexibility in manufacturing and design.

Etisalat launched special Plans for People of Determination that include a 50% discount on monthly package rental for eLife Family Value Pack of TV, internet and telephone; a 50% discount on monthly package rental for home telephone; on monthly Home Internet package rental; a 50% discount on prepaid and postpaid mobile data packs; and free subscription to Internet Calling Plan on mobile and eLife while using HiU-Messenger, C’Me, BOTIM, and Voico UAE.

Etisalat marked International Day of Sign Languages last year across its 36 business centres and retail stores across the UAE. Sign language will be a permanent feature across selected business centres and retail stores in line with Etisalat’s efforts to support the UAE’s strategic objectives to integrate people of determination with various disabilities into the community.

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It is a key element of Etisalat’s CSR strategy to provide equal opportunities to all, particularly that sport is a right and must be accessible to all throughout the society. Etisalat has been the main partner of various regional and international sport events for people of determination. It was the official telecom partner of both Special Olympics IX MENA Games Abu Dhabi 2018 and Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.

As part of the partnership with Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, Etisalat joined the world in March last year to celebrate the Special Olympics 50th anniversary to work together to create a new future for people of determination. In celebration of ‘Light Up for Inclusion’ – a global demonstration of tolerance, respect, and celebration of difference – Etisalat’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Al Kifaf buildings lit up in red. Etisalat also hosted the last leg of the Special Olympics ‘Flame of Hope’ journey at its Abu Dhabi headquarters.

In 2012 in London, Etisalat was a platinum partner for people of determination in sports for men and women from UAE, and then became the official partner of the UAE Special Olympics team for the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2015. Etisalat was the official partner of the UAE Paralympic Committee in 2016 at the Special Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and supported the UAE Paralympic Team at the Paralympic Asian Games held in Jakarta in 2018.

Etisalat Information Services, an Etisalat subsidiary, facilitated the digital sponsorship of the Unity Run through its platform connect.ae. The Unity Run is a community event celebrating the diversity of the UAE and raising awareness of people of determination.

Etisalat invited a group of physically impaired children to the Disney Show at Dubai World Trade Centre, in coordination with various humanitarian entities, bringing joy and happiness to the determined kids. It also supported a mass wedding ceremony for special needs people, held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The initiative was aimed at sending a message that people of determination are an important part of society and have equal rights.

In line with the UAE’s vision to make the country disabled-friendly, Etisalat launched the ‘Talking Bill’ service to support people of determination by enabling visually-challenged customers to access bill summary details of their account free of charge.

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