The document discusses the Arab Deaf Week, an annual event held to raise awareness of deaf issues in Arab states. Each year it focuses on a different theme, such as deafness prevention, education access, and technology access. Recent themes have emphasized empowering deaf women and promoting employment opportunities. The media helps spread information about the Week's activities. Past events include conferences in Saudi Arabia and Tunisia that highlighted speeches from deaf women. The 2013 theme was early intervention for deaf children.

1. The Arab Deaf Week on…..
the Road to Inclusion
By Dr. Ghassan Shahrour
‫أسبوع األصم العربي‬
‫د. غـسـان شـحرور‬
ّ

2. Every year, AFOWD chooses a new theme for
the annual week which is highlighted by the
activities of the week throughout the Arab
states. Since the first Arab Deaf Week ADW in
1976, the chosen themes have covered many
issues including deafness prevention and
intervention, the rights of persons with
deafness, how to promote their access to
education, and access to information
technology and services.
-They also highlighted the potentials and the
contributions of people with deafness.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 2

3.  The message of ADW is very simple:
 people with deafness have the right of full
participation in life and have to work
together in order to achieve better
accessibility.
 Themes have also focused on the main
message:
“All of us as citizens have to recognize that
we are all one though we are not the same”.
.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 3

4.  ADW and the Media:
The public media has been active in covering the
activities of ADW through magazines, newsletters and
other publications of disability organizations.
Ex:
Al-MANAL, the monthly magazine which is published by
Sharjah city for humanitarian services in the United Arab of
Emirates, has covered the activities of the ADW in the different
parts of the Arab countries.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 4

5.  ADW and the Media:
Many TV programs about disability have been
established in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan,
Tunisia, United Arab of Emirates, Syria and
other Arab countries. They also offer sign
language interpretation. These programs have
succeeded in raising the public’s awareness
of the needs and the rights of persons with
deafness.
Online social media networks have become a
common part of the social and professional
lives of many young people.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 5

6.  ADW and the Social Media:
 Many Arab deaf persons and their
organizations as well as other civil societies
have succeeded in widespread sharing of
the activities of the week during the last few
years.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 6

7.  Highlights from the Last
Annual Weeks:
 In 2008, One of the most prominent
events of the most recent ADW was
in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia when the
Saudi Committee of the Sport of the
Deaf , an AFOWD member,
organized the eighth AFOWD
Scientific Symposium (April 28-30,
2008) .
 In 2010, the theme that AFOWD
chose was “Enabling the Deaf
Woman through The UN
Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disability (CRPD)”
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 7

8.  Highlights from the Last Annual Weeks:
 AFOWD general congress in Tunisia that was
conducted during the period of November 25-27,
2010 and it was very encouraging and inspiring to
see speeches from the deaf women as well as their
organizations. That was why AFOWD decided, for
the first time, to choose the same theme again in
2011 in order to enable many people, organizations
and the media to highlight this important issue in
the Arab region where we believe that societies
should take more measures to ensure the full
development, advancement and empowerment of
women.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 8

9.  Highlights from the Last Annual Weeks:
 AFOWD general congress in Tunisia that was conducted
during the period of November 25-27, 2010 and it was very
encouraging and inspiring to see speeches from the deaf
women as well as their organizations. That was why AFOWD
decided, for the first time, to choose the same theme again in
2011 in order to enable many people, organizations and the
media to highlight this important issue in the Arab region
where we believe that societies should take more measures to
ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment
of women.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 9

10.  Highlights from the Last Annual Weeks:
 AFOWD general congress in Tunisia that was conducted
during the period of November 25-27, 2010 and it was very
encouraging and inspiring to see speeches from the deaf
women as well as their organizations. That was why AFOWD
decided, for the first time, to choose the same theme again in
2011 in order to enable many people, organizations and the
media to highlight this important issue in the Arab region
where we believe that societies should take more measures to
ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment
of women.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 10

11.  Highlights from the Last Annual Weeks:
 In 2012, The 37th ADW was observed on the topic of
“the right to work”. The objectives were to highlight
the main aspects of work and employment of the
deaf persons in the Arab region including ways to
prohibit any discrimination on the basis of deafness
and how to promote employment opportunities
including the promotion of opportunities for self-
employment.
 In UAE, the week was organized by Sharjah City for
Humanitarian Services (SCHS), Ministry of Social
Affairs, and Zayed Higher Organization for
Humanitarian Care and Special Needs in Abu Dhabi.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 11

12.  Highlights from the Last Annual Weeks:
 That observance of ADW in UAE has provided all of
us with leading and inspiring example of the
productive partnership among private, nonprofit
and government sectors in many activities of the
week
 Many other interesting activities that were
conducted in other Arab states including Saudi
Arabia, Palestine, Jordan and Morocco.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 12

13.  The Arab Deaf Week In 2013: Early Intervention:
 Hearing is critical for the development of the
aspects of speech, language, communication skills,
and learning. The earlier that hearing loss occurs
in a child's life, the more serious the effect on the
child's development is. Also, the earlier the hearing
disability is identified and intervention begins, the
more likely the children achieve better in all these
aspects.
 Early intervention services for infants and toddlers
are family-centered, and are designed to ensure
early detection of hearing disability and help the
families of children with hearing disability to stay
on track with his or her speech, language, and
communication skills.

Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 13

14.  The Arab Deaf Week In 2013: Early Intervention:
 Parents will also keep track of their child's progress
and make decisions for intervention and education
each step of the way as the child develops.
 AFOWD has urged all governments to ensure that
early intervention programs are widely
implemented in both urban and rural areas.
Ghassan Shahrour, MD. 14