Autism expert Saima Wazed speaks at Colombo meet on universal access to information

Saima Wazed Hossain, the chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopment Disorders in Bangladesh, has talked about the universal access to information in Colombo.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Sept 2018, 02:24 PM
Updated : 28 Sept 2018, 02:24 PM

The UNESCO and Sri Lankan Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure assisted by Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO (SLNCU) invited her for the 3rd annual commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) in Colombo on Friday and Saturday.

The theme for this year’s IDUAI event was “The Asian Digital Revolution: Transforming the Digital Divide into a Dividend through Universal Access”.

Also WHO’s expert on mental health, Saima spoke about policies for digital scholarships both for open educational resources and open access and disability during the panel discussion.

She particularly highlighted the availability of technological resources in Bangladesh for people in general and persons with disabilities and how they are being integrated in the education system along with the barriers which is preventing the resources from being properly utilised.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter discussed how the government along with different organisations is taking measures to minimise those barriers.

Before the event, she attended meetings on Sep 26 and 27 with the Sri Lankan health minister and other high officials of the Ministry of Health and shared experiences for development of services for children with special needs in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

She also met other members of the steering committee on neurodevelopment disorders, and key officials of the education sector who assist in developing a holistic programme for children with autism spectrum disorder as part of mental health and disability.

Saima, a licenced school psychologist, is also the Chairperson of Shuchona Foundation in Bangladesh.