Continuing to promote awareness about accessibility, Sasol, the international integrated chemicals and energy company, partnered with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) to deliver Accessibility Awareness and Audit Training to the SC’s Accessibility Forum members. The two-day workshop, held as part of the Accessible Qatar initiative, took place at the SC’s headquarters and the recently opened Khalifa International Stadium.
Jennifer Stirling and Issam Azzouri, Sasol Accessibility Consultants, led the workshop and shed light on the models of disability and the various barriers of access and how to identify them in sporting venues. Attendees reviewed the accessibility standards currently in place, and discussed how Accessible Qatar auditing techniques can be used to ensure access to all sports fans and members of society.
Khalid Al Jumaily, the SC’s Community Engagement Manager, said: “Improving the built environment for all Qataris and visitors is our number one priority. Today’s workshop and accessibility audit training is helping us to recognise the challenge and empowers us to be changemakers in our own community. Sasol and the Accessible Qatar initiative are supporting our mandate to test, evaluate and consult on plans in order to ensure a seamless fan experience for people with disabilities attending the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup™.”
Al Jumaily added that the on-site training at the newly renovated Khalifa International Stadium was a highlight of the workshop, and gave Forum members practical and hands-on experience in evaluating and understanding the accessibility challenge.
The Accessibility Auditing workshop is among a series of planned training events to be provided to other sectors in the country. Last week Sasol also conducted an accessibility training with the Qatar Tourism Authority.
Commenting on the workshop, Phinda Vilakazi, President of GTL Ventures at Sasol, said:
“The Accessible Qatar initiative is about the power of an inclusive society, and we are proud of our successes to date. With the coming of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, we have a great challenge and responsibility to lift Accessible Qatar to the world stage. Sasol and our partners are working harder than ever to reach this important target in accessibility, and towards the realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Accessible Qatar is also a smartphone application and website, the first of its kind in the region to provide the disabled community with instant and reliable information about the accessibility of public venues and tourist landmarks in Qatar. Combining expertly-audited data with user-submitted reviews and ratings, Accessible Qatar gives the disabled community and tourists the confidence to visit different accessible destinations. The initiative aims to encourage venues to become more accessible by making information about their level of accessibility available to the public online.
The Accessible Qatar app is available for download free of charge on App Store, Google Play store, Windows Phone Store and on the website (www.AccessibleQatar.com). More information can be found on the Definitely Able social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), where users can be kept updated on the latest developments.
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