The ‘Abu Dhabi Declaration on Work and Employment for People of Determination’ was announced today at the closing ceremony of the World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024. This pivotal declaration stands as a cornerstone achievement of the event, held for the first time in the Middle East, and outlines a collective commitment to promoting inclusive employment opportunities for People of Determination.
Announced by Abdullah Al-Humaidan, Secretary General of the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, and Christoph Gutenbrunner, the newly elected President of Rehabilitation International, the declaration sets forth clear milestones aimed at significantly increasing employment rates for People of Determination.
In his closing remarks, Christoph Gutenbrunner, the newly elected President of Rehabilitation International, said: “The Abu Dhabi Declaration, issued during the conference, is part of our ongoing efforts to establish effective mechanisms that enhance cooperation between governments, NGOs, and the private sector. This aims to create an environment that fosters shared responsibility and collective action, based on a unified approach to maximising available resources across various sectors. Its primary goal is to open new horizons for employment opportunities for People of Determination and to drive change towards a more inclusive society.”
He further announced the creation of a dedicated task force, established during this congress, who will review the implementation of this action plan annually, guaranteeing accountability and transparency.
Abdullah Al-Humaidan said, “This is more than just a conference it’s a pivotal moment in our shared commitment to inclusion. The work we have done here is laying the foundation for a future where people of determination are empowered, celebrated, and fully integrated into society. We are taking concrete steps toward making that vision a reality.”
Elsewhere during the final day of the Congress, attendees were treated to a range of interesting sessions. Liesl Yearsley in her session titled ‘Emerging Technology and AI in Disability and Rehabilitation Support – What the Future Holds’ about the importance of technology and the role of Artificial Intelligence in helping People of Determination to carry out simple and daily tasks, giving them a feel of independence as they would not always need a presence of a caregivers.
The final day of the congress also featured a series of concurrent masterclasses led by Pia El Kossaifi on ‘Psychomotor Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder,’ Selina Moray on ‘Psychomotor Therapy and Cerebral Palsy,’ and Eitan Charnoff from the Secretariat Secure Communities Forum on ‘Emergency Preparedness for Caregivers and Families of People of Determination.’ Participants from diverse fields such as psychology, rehabilitation, firefighting, and caregiving attended the sessions. El Kossaifi and Moray’s classes included practical demonstrations using various psychomotor therapy tools, making the sessions interactive.
Following this, participants explored the complexities of disability and rehabilitation. Dr. Mohamed Amin AlSaati, Strategy Lead at M42 Bahrain, led discussions on health initiatives designed to support employment for people of determination. Liesl Yearsley, CEO of Akin AI, went on to highlight the potential of emerging technologies in disability support and how integrating AI into rehabilitation practices can make them more efficient and effective.
Reflecting on his participation in the event, Mark Soubrain, CEO of ISRP (Higher Institute of Psychomotor Therapy Rehabilitation), said, “This was a very inspiring event to be part of. You can really see the lead that the UAE has taken at an international level in promoting the needs, interests, and rights of people with disabilities. This event was extremely pragmatic, as it focused on implementation, and for that, I really congratulate the organisers.”
Paralympian, speaker and author, Jessica Smith, who jointly chaired a session on ‘UAE Initiatives in Inclusive Employment’ said “It was an amazing opportunity to take part in the World Congress on Rehabilitation here in the UAE, held for the first time in the region. To be able to bring together so many incredible and minds to collaborate on what is such an important initiative in the workplace and employment for People of Determination, was an honor to be able to contribute to.”
The World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024 was a resounding success, outlining concrete and practical steps which set an outstanding benchmark for streamlining international best congresses, as well as setting the standard for future editions of the congress.