Within the framework of Ain Shams University’s keenness to support and care for people with disabilities and work to make the educational process available to students and integrate them into society to achieve an inclusive university community without barriers in light of the Egyptian Disability Law that was issued in 2018.

Under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University and Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, and under the administrative supervision of Mr. Ibrahim Saeed, Assistant Secretary of the University for Education and Student Affairs.

Today, Prof. Rana Al-Hilali, Director of the Service Center for Students with Disabilities, received a delegation from the United States Aid Agency (USAID), in the presence of Richard Bernstein, a judge in the state of Michigan, Bushra Allawi and Iman Ibrahim Yaro, who are attached to the USAID, and Mary Ishaq, a project management specialist at USAID in the Office of Education and Partnerships, and Dr. Dina Mohsen from iMedist, and from the Center for People with Disabilities, Dr. Mustafa Al-Shahed and Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim, deputy director of the center, Mrs. Dalia Al-Swaify, secretary of the center, Dr. Irene Fawzi, assistant professor of special education, Mrs. Amal Hanafi, and Mrs. Irene Badawi from the center’s staff.

Mr. Bernstein praised the importance of the center, and that it provides an exemplary service to people with disabilities, and that the facilities provided by Ain Shams University during the previous five years are unprecedented, and that the university’s plan includes all old and modern buildings, and the accessibility is taken into account in all new projects, and this effort was met with admiration from all Local and international organizations and that the effort made is an example to be emulated in all universities in Egypt.

He also directed the students to the necessity of insisting on achieving their goals and desires and confronting any obstacle. He encouraged them to continue and persevere to reach their goal and not lose hope (You Can). In an interview with the students, he indicated that he is a person who loves sports very much and has participated in a number of international competitions. He explained to the students how to deal with competitions, issues, life for people with disabilities, and the ability to face problems. He added that whoever believes in people with disabilities may be one person who helps you and believes in your skills.

Prof. Rana Al-Hilali reviewed methods and activities for providing services to students with disabilities and the procedures followed in this regard, stressing that there is a database for various students with disabilities in cooperation with all university faculties. There are 7 support centers for students distributed on campus in the faculties of (Medicine - two units in Arts - Al-Alsun - Engineering - Business) is fully supported and developed.

The programs of centers for people with disabilities are a grant provided to students of these groups, through which we learn about the problems and challenges facing these students, and are concerned with training them at the university and providing educational means for them.

She stressed the center’s keenness to integrate students with disabilities into the university community and prepare them and build their capabilities to become qualified, professional and distinguished cadres to keep pace with the requirements of the labor market and for Ain Shams University to be one of the best universities in this regard.

This is in addition to the services provided to students, including coordination with various faculties to provide accessibility services to students, determining facilitations for the educational process and examinations according to the type of disability through a committee specialized in the affairs of people with disabilities, and paying attention to conducting intelligence tests and adaptive behavior tests and providing personal skills development programs for the labor market. Computer, English language, and labor market skills.

The center also provides educational accessibility tools such as screen reader programs - printing curricula in Braille - converting texts into audio texts, amplifiers and recording devices, and contributes to providing prosthetic limbs for students and training for students, faculty staff and employees.

Dr. Dina Mohsen added that in 2018, five centers were established to serve students with disabilities in a number of different universities, including Ain Shams University, the University of Alexandria, Mansoura, and Assiut, and currently there are approximately 15 other new centers in other universities.

She explained that the scholarship program for public universities is one of the branches of the Higher Education Initiative between the United States of America and Egypt (HEI). This scholarship funds high school graduates, including students with disabilities. This is to attend the distinguished programs offered at public universities in parallel with activating a number of specially designed complementary activities such as English language training, training in leadership skills and career planning, as well as summer training programs for students, community services and study abroad.