In his talk at a symposium held on the sidelines of the Doha International Book Fair on how the blind read and access information, Muhammad Shafi’ Al-Fahida, an activist in the field of digital access and people with disabilities, stressed the importance of the blind’s knowledge and access to information through the use of compatible devices that help them do so, such as the electronic Braille display device, among others, and the right of access to the word and the legislation that helps the blind search for information.
Abbad Al-Shamali, a legal advisor, addressed the ways that facilitate access of beneficiaries, including people with visual disabilities, to content, stating the position of the Qatari legislator, specifically with regard to the copyright protection law and concomitant rights.
Ikrami Ahmed, an assistant technology specialist, talked about the axis of reading techniques that help people with visual disabilities access information. He stressed the importance of assistive technology in making the lives of people with disabilities possible, given that it has opened many horizons in the fields of education, employment, and access to knowledge. He also explained the importance of classifying the needs and requirements of each person according to the degree of disability.
This discussion session was held by the Qatar Social and Cultural Center for the Blind under the title “The Blind and the Book: Relationship and Reading Techniques,” and was moderated by Mr. Faisal Al Kooheji, Chairman of the Center’s Board of Directors. During this session, several axes were highlighted, including “how the blind read,” “the documents accessible to people with visual disabilities,” “the right of access to the word,” “legislation and laws that help eliminate knowledge poverty for the blind,” “reading techniques,” and “how modern technology has helped the blind reach broader horizons of knowledge.”