A S U

The Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University organized the orientation meeting for students with disabilities and visually impaired students for the second consecutive year, under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of the University; Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; and Prof. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty. The event was attended by Prof. Hala Sayed, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, along with the heads of academic departments that include students with disabilities and visually impaired students.

In her address, Prof. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty, congratulated the new students and their parents on their academic excellence and high scores that qualified them to join the Faculty. She emphasized that dedicating an orientation day for students of determination reflects the Faculty’s commitment to their inclusion and to providing all forms of support. She also gave an overview of the Faculty’s history, established by educational pioneer Rifa’a Al-Tahtawi in 1835, before later becoming the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University.

The Dean affirmed that the state attaches special importance to supporting people of determination as an active element of society. She stressed the Faculty’s commitment to providing academic, cultural, and health support to them, while highlighting the importance of acquiring computer skills and relying on personal effort to enhance capabilities. She further encouraged students to actively participate in student activities, training programs, and workshops organized by the Faculty to sharpen their skills and develop their potential, referring also to the annual employment fair, which provides real job opportunities for students and graduates, including those with disabilities.

For her part, Prof. Hala Sayed, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, emphasized the Faculty’s keenness to provide comprehensive support to students at all levels. She noted that the Faculty has made available a package of specialized services, including an Academic Advising Unit dedicated to supporting students with disabilities throughout their studies and in dealing with life challenges in general; the “Rafiq Al-Darb” library, equipped with devices to convert curricula into Braille and to host examinations for visually impaired students; in addition to the E-learning Unit and the Faculty’s platform, which provides study materials for all students, along with electronic exams held in highly equipped halls.

She stressed that this integrated system requires students to develop computer skills in order to fully benefit from modern educational services, adding that the Faculty’s support is not limited to the academic aspect but also extends to recreational activities and the discovery and nurturing of students’ unique talents.

Prof. Rana El-Helaly, Director of the Disability Center at Ain Shams University, explained that the Center ensures students are registered upon joining the University in order to identify their needs and provide specialized training, most importantly training in computer use and assistive technologies that prepare them for academic study. She added that the University provides specially equipped computers for visually impaired students in its halls, along with psychological support and avenues for effective communication with their peers.

Dr. El-Helaly stressed that Ain Shams University is committed to providing only the legally mandated accommodations, affirming that no admission requirements or exams can be waived without justification, in order to uphold the principle of equal opportunity and ensure fairness among all students.