Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi: We are keen to promote excellence in the integration of people of determination

ABU DHABI, 16 JUNE / WAM / His Excellency Shams Ali Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, confirmed that the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Inclusion of People of Determination “Damj” represents one of the pioneering initiatives that contribute to establishing a culture of inclusion and enhancing the participation of people of determination in various sectors. He pointed out that the large demand for the award reflects the growing institutional awareness of the importance of providing more comprehensive and sustainable work environments and services.

This came in statements to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, on the sidelines of the ceremony honoring the winners of the first session of the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Inclusion of People of Determination, which was held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award, and with wide participation from government, private and third sector agencies.

He stressed that the participating entities provided distinguished models in developing inclusive services, employing supportive technology, and enhancing employment opportunities for people of determination, which made the process of selecting the winners a real challenge given the quality and diversity of the initiatives.

He added that the award has contributed over the past years to motivating institutions to adopt more comprehensive practices that enhance the quality of life and support the active participation of people of determination in society and the economy. He stressed that the Department of Community Development is continuing to develop the award and expand its scope in order to achieve Abu Dhabi’s goals in building an inclusive society that provides opportunities for all.

He pointed out that the 2027 session will witness expansion across the UAE, in addition to the introduction of new standards focusing on innovation, technology, and smart solutions that support integration, in a way that enhances the impact of the award and raises the level of competitiveness among participating entities.

The ceremony included innovative interactive experiences that allowed visitors to explore some of the challenges that people of determination may face in their daily lives, with the aim of enhancing awareness of the importance of inclusive design and accessibility, and highlighting the role of innovation and technology in providing solutions that contribute to building more inclusive societies.

For her part, Her Excellency Dr. Laila Al Hayas, Executive Director of the Family and Child Care Sector at the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, said that honoring the entities that won the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Integrating People of Determination “Integration” embodies the keenness to enhance institutional excellence and establish a culture of inclusion in various sectors. She pointed out that the current session witnessed wide participation of 273 entities, of which 134 qualified after careful evaluation stages, while 10 entities were crowned with excellence awards within the axes of inclusive employment and services. Inclusive and easy access.

Laila Al-Hayas emphasized in statements to WAM that the importance of the award does not lie only in the number of winning entities, but in its ability to bring about a real institutional transformation that is reflected in daily policies and practices, which contributes to establishing more comprehensive and sustainable work environments and services.

She stressed that Abu Dhabi believes that a prosperous society is one that removes obstacles for all its members and provides equal opportunities for all. He said: “Therefore, today we are honoring entities that have succeeded in translating their commitment to inclusion into concrete initiatives and practices that have contributed to empowering people of determination and enhancing their active participation in society.”

She pointed out that the event was not limited to honoring the winning entities, but also included innovative interactive experiences that allowed visitors to explore some of the challenges that people of determination may face in their daily lives, which enhances awareness of the importance of inclusive design and accessibility, and highlights the pivotal role of innovation in transforming challenges into opportunities and building more inclusive societies.

She explained that these experiences highlighted that the obstacle does not lie in the capabilities of people, but rather in systems and environments that do not take into account the needs of everyone from the design stage, stressing that providing services, digital platforms, urban environments, means of transportation, and workplaces that take into account the requirements of different segments of society contributes to enabling more people to participate, contribute, and flourish with independence and dignity.

She expressed her aspiration that the upcoming sessions will witness a greater expansion of the award at the state level, and that it will continue its role in promoting institutional excellence, leading to consolidating its position as a national, regional and global reference in the field of integrating people of determination, in a way that supports Abu Dhabi’s vision of building an inclusive society that provides opportunities for everyone without exception.

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