Under the Patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development & Honorary President of the Future Centre for Special Needs, Abu Dhabi

Rehabilitation Business in the Middle East

www.abilitiesme.com

Post Show Report

2015

Autism Physicaldisabilities

Hearingdisabilities

Communicationdisability

DownSyndrome

Visualdisabilities

Intellectualdisabilities

ABILITIESme receives strong support from:

ABILITIESme would like to thank all our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, trainers, partners and visitors for ensuring that ABILITIESme 2015 was a great success. The feedback received from the exhibitors and delegates was that the trading was strong, that the educational content was excellent and that the atmosphere was electric. This is very positive news for Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the Middle East’s Rehabilitation sector and the Special Needs Community. ABILITIESme 2015 was held from the 24th – 26th March at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Honorary President of the Future Centre for Special Needs, Abu Dhabi. For the second year in a row, ABILITIESme introduced the Middle East community to the latest developments in mobility, independent living solutions and rehabilitation solutions. ABILITIESme allowed the community to test and try the latest technologies and solutions available for people with disability and the elderly. The ABILITIESme Conference was very well received which featured VIP government, international, regional and local speakers discussing government initiatives, policies, social inclusion and the latest information on trends in accessibility, adaptation, rehabilitation and assistive technology for people with disability and the elderly. ABILITIESme Workshops were conducted over all three days of the event which featured 20 exclusive learning experience with hands on practical sessions that provided a deeper understanding of therapies, products and services. Workshops were directed and focused on the end users and were for the benefit of people with special needs, parents, medical and healthcare specialists, educational experts and caregivers. Once again, the UAE Disabled Sports Federation showcased sporting activities with an objective to highlight inclusion in sports such as Basketball and Goal Ball for the visually impaired.

New for this event were the inclusion of both certified training courses and the annual Skills Challenge organized by the Future Centre in Abu Dhabi.

Over the course of ABILITIESme, certified training courses were conducted in the fields of; Inclusive Education, Talk Tools, Responsive interaction-basedstrategies that promote early social and language development and Healthy Posture for Healthy Movement.

ABILITIESme in collaboration with The Future Centre for Special Needs hosted the Skills Challenge 2015. This is a skills-related competition that is aimed to identify an annual competition unique abilities in participants with special needs. ABILITIESme was held under theme of Inclusion, hence our role is to discover and develop the talents of people with disability. Through this event, we hope to showcase and identify strengths and abilities within individuals of persons with disability in the UAE in the hopes of their gaining proper recognition and meaningful placements in society. Winners and participants in each category were presented with trophies and certificates of participation to recognize their achievements. On behalf of dmg events and the entire ABILITIESme team we would like to say thank you to all our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, trainers, partners and visitors for making ABILITIESme 2015 a huge success. We are busy planning ahead for next year’s show and focusing on creating together a great ABILITIESme 2016.

+971 4 445 3652 abilitiesme@dmgeventsme.com www.abilitiesme.com

Thank you!

Post Show Report 2015

Show Overview

Exhibitors primary objectives for exhibiting

Countries exhibiting included :

Country pavilions included:

Exhibitors objectives were met:

ABILITIESme exhibition and conference is a multilayered event that features a conference, exhibition, workshops, certified training programs, sporting and kid's activities and the annual Skills Challenge focused on improving the quality of life of people with disabilities and the elderly and educating parents, medical and healthcare specialists, educational experts, teachers and care givers. ABILITIESme is held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nayahan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Honorary President of the Future Centre for Special Needs, Abu Dhabi.

Net Space - 30% increase2600 m2

Exhibitors95

Visitors3614

ABILITIESme Exhibition

+971 4 445 3652 abilitiesme@dmgeventsme.com www.abilitiesme.com

*Response include multiples as exhibitors could select more than one reason for objectives.

UAE – 71.1%UK – 7.4%Czech Republic – 1.1%China – 3.2%Netherlands – 1.1%USA – 4.3%Germany – 1.1% Taiwan – 2.1%Lebanon – 3.2%Pakistan – 1.1%India – 2.1%Jordan – 1.1%Saudi Arabia – 1.1%

48% Generate new sales leads, orders

32% Meet existing clients

71% Promote company and brand in theMiddle East

14% Recruit new agent, distributor

40% Launch new products, services

28% Gather market info, feedback on company

Fully

11%Mostly

51%Partially

38%

UAE

China

UK

USA

Post Show Report 2015+971 4 445 3652 abilitiesme@dmgeventsme.com www.abilitiesme.com

The ABILITIESme Conference was inaugurated by His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development. The conference was held over two days and covered factors that contribute to the social, economic, educational and career development and empowerment of people with disabilities. The conference welcomed over 400 attendees over the 2 days and featured VIP government, international, regional and local speakers discussing government initiatives, policies, social inclusion and the latest information on trends in accessibility, adaptation, rehabilitation and assistive technology for people with disability and the elderly.

Conference Overview:• H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Honorary President of the Future Centre for Special Needs – Abu Dhabi - UAE• H.E. Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Education Council – UAE• H.E. Marwan Ahmad Al Sawaleh, Undersecretary - Ministry of Education - UAE• H.E. Mariam Saif Al Qubaisi, Head of Special Needs Sector, Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO) - UAE• Shaikha Dr. Alya Al Qassimi, Director of the Social Programs and Inclusion Department, Community Development Authority - UAE• John McConkey, Marketing Insights Manager, Landscape Structures - USA• David Bartram, Director of Inclusion, Lampton School, London - UK• Dr. Lucy Miller, Executive Director, SPD Foundation – USA• Dr. Matti Kuorelahti, Director-Department of Education – University of Jyvaskyla - Finland• Zainab Al-Eqabi (Motivational Speaker) – Iraq

• Over 16 sessions attended

• Delegates attending from government, healthcare, education and the private sector

• Over 400+ people attended the sessions

• More than 12 hours of free and unrivalled learning was delivered

• Abu Dhabi International School• ADEC • ADMA - OPCO• ADNOC• Al Muna Primary School - Aldar Academies• Al Noor School• Al Wagan Hospital/Al Tawam Hospital• Aldar Academics• Alliance Academy Jordan• Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center• Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Keynote speakers included:

Conference attendees included senior executives from:

ABILITIESme Conference

• Community Development Authority• Emirates Academy• Emirates Transport• Etihad Airways• GEMS• HAAD • Health Authority• KHIDI• Mafraq Hospital • Ministry Of Social Affairs• MOE• Police• Rashid Centre for Disabled

• SEHA• Sharjah City For Humanitarian Services• Sheikh Khalifa Medical City• Sheikh Khalifa Medical City• Sheikh Khalifa Medical City• Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City• The Wellington Hospital• UAE Deaf Association• Zayed Higher Organization For Humanitarian Care & Special Needs ZHO

Post Show Report 2015+971 4 445 3652 abilitiesme@dmgeventsme.com www.abilitiesme.com

For this second edition, all the seminars were educational and directed towards the end-users.The ABILITIESme Seminars provided an interactive platform for educators, healthcare providers, caregivers, people with disabilities and the elderly to expand their knowledge and enhance their skills. Seminars were tailored to provide a hands-on learning experience to improve the quality of life for the special needs community.

Just wanted to say ‘thank you’ for another great conference. Cambian rated the event as very successful this year for us. We particularly enjoyed the training element, and also felt that we were consolidating relationships initiated by last year’s event. It is always good to have a continuum to work upon.Gillian WilsonInternational Business Development Director (Education)

22 sessions conducted across 3 days

of inclusion in education focused workshops for experts and teachers36 hours

of inclusion workshops for people with special needs, parents and caregivers13 hours

of medical workshops for PT, OT, medical and healthcare specialists

Surgeons

Physiotherapists

Occupational Therapists

Speech & Language Therapists

Health Professionals

Assistants/ Nurses

Pediatric Consultants

Head of Accessibility Services

Rehabilitation specialists

Principals/ Administrators

Teachers / Educators

Shadow Teachers

Special Education Teachers

Special Education Consultants

Physical Education Teacher

Assistive Technology Specialists

Vocational Trainers

Architectural Designers

Special Needs Community

Elderly

Charities & Advisers

General Managers

CSR Managers

Athletes with disability

Caregivers Associations

Social Workers

NGO's

Government Authorities

Educational Establishments

Hospitals

Medical clinics

Rehabilitation Centers

Special Needs Centers

Travel Associations

Special Needs Sports Organizations

Private Institutions

11 hours

Job titles of attendees included:

Seminars

Medical Education Private Visitors Associations / Institutions

Post Show Report 2015+971 4 445 3652 abilitiesme@dmgeventsme.com www.abilitiesme.com

ABILITIESme 2015 hosted sporting activities for people with disability in association with the UAE Disabled Sports Federation and the UAE Paralympic Committee.

The UAE Disabled Sports Federation (UAE DSF) invites ABILITIESme visitors to inform about the variety of disabled sports on offer and to try out different types of sports directly at the event. The services and activities in the areas of rehabilitation, popular and competitive sports are aimed not only at affected persons – family members and especially people that work in rehabilitation and care professions will also find many ideas and inspiration.

Even people that are not actively involved in sports will discover that in spite of a handicap or age-related restrictions everything is still possible.

• Where can I find a sports activity that is individually tailored to me?

• What types of sports are available for people with handicaps?

• What sport is practical and still enjoyable for me despite my handicap?

• How can I be active even in my advanced years?

Clubs participating at the event were the Al Thiqah Club, Al Ain Club for disabled along with the local clubs around the UAE.

Answers to all these questions can be found at ABILITIESme Sporting Activities include

Wheelchair Basketball

Goal Ball

Chess for the visually impaired

SPORTING ACTIVITIES

Post Show Report 2015+971 4 445 3652 abilitiesme@dmgeventsme.com www.abilitiesme.com

For this year’s event, the following certified training courses were included and often, oversubscribed which further showcases the desire for further education:

This was a two day course focused on:

A: Responsive interaction-based strategies that promote early social and language development

B: Implement a collaborative model to coach parents on the use of interaction based strategies

A one day course focused on the teachers in theeducational profile

A one day course targeted towardsboth Pt and OT

• Accessing the Classroom

An internationally recognized training course held overtwo days to focus on:

• Discover the Feel of Feeding and Speech

• Healthy Posture for Healthy Movement

• A Global Posture System for Faster and More Efficient Therapeutic Result

CERTIFIED TRAINING COURSES

Post Show Report 2015+971 4 445 3652 abilitiesme@dmgeventsme.com www.abilitiesme.com

ABILITIESme in collaboration with The Future Centre for Special Needs hosted the Skills Challenge 2015. This is a skills-related competition that is aimed to identify unique abilities in participants with special needs. INSPIRATION : In the year 2007, three students of the Future Centre were sent to compete in the International Abilympics in Japan. Upon the students’ return to UAE, they told stories of their wonderful experiences before and during the competition. Their stories inspired the thought of SKILLS CHALLENGE 2013. This first time event in the UAE was held in 2013 in The Future Centre, Abu Dhabi. ABILITIESme was held under theme of Inclusion, hence our role is to discover and develop the talents of people with disability. Through this event, we hope to showcase and identify strengths and abilities within individuals of persons with disability in the UAE in the hopes of their gaining proper recognition and meaningful placements in society. Winners and participants in each category were presented with trophies and certificates of participation to recognize their achievements.

The various events were judged by independent judges under the guidance of a Chief Judge.

SKILLS CHALLENGE 2015

WordProcessing

HennaDesign

JewelryMaking

Painting PowerPoint Embroidery

FlowerArrangement

3-D Art Photography

Sponsor

Marketing and PR Campaign

Overview and Media Exposure

Print media

Tv report

Twitter stats Instagram report

Geography breakdown

+971 4 445 3652 abilitiesme@dmgeventsme.com www.abilitiesme.com

Emarat TV – Ouloum Al Dar Evening News - 24.03.2015

From 15:07 to 17:32

Emarat TV – Ouloum Al Dar Evening News - 25.03.2015

From 16:35 to 18:42

Emarat TV – Rouh Al Ittihad26.03.2015

From 27:06 to 37:20

WAM Emirates News Agency

24.03.2015

Abu Dhabi TVEvening News

24.03.2015

Instagram Tags: 120

Twitter Tags / Mentions: 122

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See you at ABILITIESme 2016March 2016

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, UAE

Rajendra SalgaonkarProject Manager – ABILITIESme

T: +971 4445 3652, M: +971 56 174 1686 Email: rajendrasalgaonkar@dmgeventsme.com

www.abilitiesme.com

SEMINAR ZAINAB AL-EQABImotivational speaker CONFERENCE

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan