Doha, Qatar Assistive Technology Center (Mada) launched MadaLab, a state-of-the-art showcase featuring the latest cutting-edge assistive technologies and accessible solutions related to improving digital access for Persons with Disabilities in the Arabic-speaking region and beyond. MadaLab serves as an Innovation hub for innovators, solution providers, users, and ICT and AT experts.
With a vision to create an open, accessible, and inclusive environment, to access, explore, ideate, and develop demonstrable outcomes in focused areas on emerging digital accessibility and assistive technologies. Leveraging on the ever-growing research and innovation ecosystem in the State of Qatar, the MadaLab will act as an orchestrator amongst the government, researchers, innovators, and the technology industry. The Mada Lab will bring current challenges identified by the community to the innovation ecosystem to solve those challenges alongside our technology partners leveraging their industry expertise and solutions.
On the occasion, Aisha Alsinani, Strategic Communication Department Manager at Mada, a Ministry of Social Development and Family affiliate, told Qatar News Agency that Mada seeks to improve digital access in Qatar and the world, in addition to delivering the Center’s services to its target group, partners, and governmental and private organizations, in such a way that serves society and the state in integrating people with disabilities into their surroundings. Alsinani noted that Mada’s website includes all of Mada program, digital access, and research platforms, in addition to details on the Center’s courses and workshops, best practices, and a special platform for assistive technology services.
The Strategic Communication Department Manager at Mada added that in order to have access to Mada and benefit from its services, one needs no more than to visit the Center’s website, by number, social media, visit the Center in person, and on partner platforms. The Center also has a comprehensive database through which it directly reaches out to target groups and stakeholders by phone and/or Text messages, in order to educate and introduce them to training and qualification opportunities, pointing to its academy, which offers training programs to all state institutions on a monthly basis, asking state-institution to nominate its employees to benefit from the programs according to their disability, needs, and wishes.
Aisha Alsinani said that Mada cooperates with a large number of research centers locally and internationally, and has signed agreements with several of them to support 5 innovative research projects that will come to light soon. Mada also signed an agreement with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Institute for Information Industry – Taiwan, as digital enablers of the Center. She noted that many innovative programs were dispensed once better alternatives were found, with the Center keeping pace with technology development and updates globally, especially given the rapid development of the innovation market.
She stressed that there is no link between providing solutions and innovations on the one hand, and the need for a high number of beneficiaries for it to be offered. Instead, Mada aims to serve everyone’s needs, even if it were one person. Alsinani emphasized that Mada’s objective is the digital inclusion of all, with individuals also having the right to access with ease and independence. She added that the Center’s prevailing principle is to support individuals using technological solutions for them to keep up with their peers, be it in their jobs, school, or any other situation in the country, striving towards the practical achievement of integration, noting that people with disabilities are the ones who evaluate the solutions and develop them according to their desires and choices.
Source: Qatar News Agency