Sasol and The British Council Qatar joined forces with key Qatari partners in the field of inclusion and diversity to hold a ground-breaking event in 2015: the ‘Definitely Able Conference and Ilham Art Exhibition’ at the Museum of Islamic Art. This event builds on Sasol’s on-going ‘Definitely Able’ initiative and the Arts and Disability Festival during Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture. Our partners include Qatar Museums, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, University College London, ORYX GTL, Qatar University, Al Noor Institute for the Blind, MADA, Supreme Education Council, and Volunteer Committee for Employing the Disabled.
The two-day Definitely Able Conference gave a platform to the voices of the Qatari disabled community and provided an opportunity for policy makers and stakeholders from Qatar and around the world to share and learn from each other’s experiences.
The conference was complemented by the Ilham art exhibition, which will showcased the talents of international disabled artists. Schools and disabled groups were also invited throughout the exhibition period to interact with artists and explore their creativity through workshops for children and families.
To ensure long-term impact, participants at the conference were asked to pledge support and commit to making changes in policies and practices throughout 2015. These pledges will shape the legacy of the project and the development of a further series of initiatives in 2016.
Aims of Conference:
- Challenge and change perceptions of disabled people through open discussion and the Ilham art exhibition, featuring works by disabled artists inspired by the Collection at the Museum of Islamic Art
- Share Qatar’s successes and challenges with other countries, giving a voice to young people with a disability
- Compare local policies and services with international best practice
- Encourage and inspire disabled people to reach their full potential
- Develop an action plan for future initiatives to improve education and employability prospects for disabled people
click here to watch the Definitely Able Conference 2015 Sessions