The Role of Accessibility Features in Enhancing Social Inclusion

The Halabja Disabled Organization organized a workshop on The Role of Accessibility Features in Enhancing Social Inclusion” on November 28th, 2022, which was co-hosted by the Architectural Engineering and Civil Engineering Departments, Faculty of Engineering at Tishk International University-Sulaimani (TIUS).

The workshop organized by Halabja Disabled Organization, as part of the Hiwar Initiative, “Youth Empowerment and Inclusion of Youth with Disabilities Project,” and in collaboration with UN Ponte Per (UPP), funded by UNDP Iraq, featured an important discourse on inclusivity and accessibility.

The session began with a powerful lecture by Mr. Hikmat Marouf, a disability rights activist, who shed light on the myriad challenges that individuals with disabilities face due to insufficient accessibility measures. His discourse aimed to raise awareness about the societal and infrastructural barriers that impede the full participation of disabled individuals in society.

Following Mr. Marouf, Mr. Awder Omar, who served as the workshop trainer, delivered an educational presentation delineating the various accessibility standards essential for public spaces. His session was crucial in informing participants about the inclusive measures that need to be integrated into public design to foster an accessible environment for all.

Dr. Hozan Latif Rauf from the Kurdistan Technical Institute concluded the series of presentations with a lecture on universal design in education. His insights provided attendees with strategies for implementing universal design principles, ensuring that educational environments cater to the needs of all students, including those with disabilities.

The workshop represented a concerted effort to advocate for the rights of disabled individuals and to encourage the adoption of universal accessibility standards across various sectors.

The objectives of the workshop include: