The document summarizes a science outreach program in Abu Dhabi called Lema? that aims to inspire scientific curiosity in students with special needs. The program held hands-on workshops on topics like robotics and anatomy for deaf and hearing-impaired students. One workshop used humor and props to teach students about human anatomy. The program seeks to make science more accessible and fun to complement classroom learning. It has reached over 50,000 students total and hopes to involve more special needs centers in e-learning initiatives.

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Students with hearing and speaking impairments
encouraged to ask ‘Why?’
Lindsay Carroll
October 16, 2014 Updated: October 16, 2014 09:18 PM
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ABU DHABI // Learning to programme a robot helped Salem Al Hajeri to
decide that he wants to pursue science as a career.
Salem, a 16 year­old Grade 9 pupil with hearing problems, took part in a
workshop yesterday aimed at motivating pupils to learn the sciences. He
said he was now considering going to a specialised technical institute after
graduating.
Dozens of students with hearing problems or speech impediments and
their teachers at Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation and Care Centre for People with
Special Needs attended workshops through Lema?, a Science School
Outreach Programme.
The programme, from the Abu Dhabi Technology Development
Committee, which began last year, aims to take an informal approach to
science and instil scientific curiosity in young people.
The programme has reached more than 50,000 students in public and
private schools in Abu Dhabi, said Neama Al Marshoodi, manager of

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content for science and technology promotion at the committee.
The workshops, covering astronomy, robotics and anatomy, give students
“an opportunity to think about science and technology as a lifestyle”, Ms Al
Marshoodi said.
“They love the programme because they see science and technology from
different sides,” she said.
“We believe that informal education gives them a way to relate to
education.”
One of the workshops, called Body Builders, is an interactive performance
designed to help the pupils remember names for anatomy through
humour, said Ahmed Abuali, 23, a Palestinian who is one of the workshop’s
“science communicators”.
Yesterday was no different, he said.
“I loved it, it’s the usual,” Mr Abuali said. “They love the show and they’re
motivated to study science.”
The show involves a doctor who provides the information, and a goofy
patient whose responses to the doctor help the kids to remember the
lesson, he said.
Through the skits the pupils learnt about the musculoskeletal, digestive,
circulatory and reproductive systems, at times moving their joints and
learning the location of their pulse. Sawsan Jaweed, an Arabic teacher at
the centre, translated the skit into sign language for the pupils.
Mr Abuali said he had previously worked with children with disabilities in
other centres. A Grade 4 student who was visually impaired once told him
afterwards that she wanted to become a doctor, he said.
The Lema? programme, which means “Why?” in Arabic, is part of
increased efforts to involve students with special needs in Abu Dhabi’s e­
learning initiatives, said Ahmed Al Hammadi, programme manager for the
e­learning special project at Abu Dhabi Education Council.
Adec hopes to involve special­needs centres more in its e­learning
initiatives, Mr Al Hammadi said.
“This special­needs group will be engaged more soon,” he said.
The programme complements classroom learning to help them have more
understanding, engagement and collaboration, he said.
Hands­on workshops that focus on practical aspects of the curriculum are
ideal for students at the centre, said Mariam Saif Al Qubaisi, head of the
special­needs sector at the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian
Care and Special Needs, of which the centre is part.
“It’s excellent for our students,” she said. “It will let them know how they
can implement what they learn.”
The technology and development committee expanded the programme
this year to students in grades 6 and 7, in addition to grades 3 to 5,
covered last year.

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The workshops included the Lego Mindstorm Nxt Challenge for robot
programming, the Body Builders show, and the Secret of Space
planetarium show.
Lema? continues until November in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain schools.
Interested schools can contact lema@tdc.gov.ae or visit www.lema.ae for
more information. The programme was created to assist the emirate’s goal
of becoming a knowledge­based economy by 2030, according to the
committee.
lcarroll@thenational.ae
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