Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities
On December 3, AUC celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at its Tahrir Square campus through the AccessAUC initiative. The event included a panel discussion, hands-on activities and a bazaar featuring handicrafts made by people with disabilities.
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One of the day’s highlights was a panel discussion on “Universities as Catalysts for Inclusion and Access.” Panelists ranged from government officials and alumni heading nonprofits to AUC faculty and Excellence Scholars, and the event included a musical performance by Mariam Mohsen, a sophomore double majoring in political science and integrated marketing communication who was born with a visual impairment, adding an inspiring artistic component to the day’s program. The panelists discussed inclusion, barriers to accessibility in universities, policies, advocacy and more.
The panel commenced with AUC President Ahmad Dallal’s opening remarks, which defined the day as “a call to action to recognize, amplify and support the incredible potential of persons with disabilities.” The president spoke about the AccessAUC initiative, which represents AUC’s commitment and responsibility to create “spaces, practices and awareness to allow all members of the community to fully contribute.”
President Dallal believes that AUC is stronger because of its people with disabilities. “Persons with disabilities bring unique talents, perspectives and contributions that enrich our collective experience,” he said. “When we remove barriers to access and create environments where everyone can thrive, we unlock opportunities for all members of the community.”
Though he acknowledged that AUC still has work left to do, Dallal reflected on some of AUC’s wins in the fight for accessibility: The New Cairo campus was designed with accessibility in mind, and the specialized Student Accessibility Services unit works to support students with disabilities. Additionally, the newly launched People with Disabilities Employee Mentorship and Development Program provides job opportunities, upskilling and training, offering candidates the chance to gain professional experience across various functions within AUC and develop their technical and soft skills. The University will assist participants who complete the program in preparing resumes and will provide references to potential employers in Egypt.
The day’s activities were planned with contributions by the organizations Dialogue in the Dark, Helm and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. Dialogue in the Dark planned an immersive activity in which participants navigated through a completely dark environment with the help of guides with visual impairments, gaining a glimpse of life without sight. Other activities included the one-hand challenge, where participants had to adapt to conducting tasks with one hand, and sign language encoding, where they learned the basics of sign language.
The celebration at AUC’s Tahrir Square campus not only highlighted the achievements and potential of persons with disabilities but also reinforced the University’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility, serving as an inspiring call to action for all institutions to prioritize equity. “At The American University in Cairo, we firmly believe that empowering persons with disabilities is not only the right thing to do; it is a pathway for stronger, more inclusive and more equitable societies,” affirmed Dallal.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT AUC
- AUC is the first university in Egypt to integrate classic and modern assistive systems, combining Braille with advanced assistive technologies.
- AUC offers Egypt’s only graduate diploma in inclusive education, reinforcing its commitment to empowering educators and fostering inclusive learning environments beyond AUC.
- The AUC New Cairo campus sets the standard for inclusivity as Egypt’s only university of its kind and a top institution in the MENA region, featuring wheelchair-friendly pathways, accessible residences, an inclusive sports complex, tactile pathways and adaptive technology corners.
- AUC offers dedicated scholarships for students with disabilities, including the Ahmed and Rania Ismail Endowed Scholarship and the Attijariwafa Bank Public School Scholarship for Students with Disabilities.
- AUC provides dedicated centers and units for students with disabilities.
