Speech impaired students undertake research project using GIS

They proved that physical impairment is not an impediment in the way of undertaking a research project using geographical information system.

The technical research project called "Why do we reach late to the Centre?" was conducted by a group of ten students from the Centre. The team comprised of Turki Al Mansouri, Saeed Al Balooshi, Hazza Al Balooshi, Mattar Al Rumaithi, Khadim Al Rumaithi, Abdullah Al Wahid, Ahmed Al Shuhhi, Mohammed Al Aidarous, Sameera Habib and Sara Al Anani worked for the project under the supervision of their teachers Amoun Al Tayyeb, Wadha Al Mansori and Fatima Al Dhahiri.

Their project sought the reasons behind the students, teachers and visitors reaching late to the Abu Dhabi Centre for Special Needs. They analyzed the reasons using GIS with respect to the geographical location of the Centre and the effect of the surrounding environment.

The students worked hard to find solutions to get rid of the obstacles. The problem was presented using a number of means to illustrate it. These were geographical maps, satellite pictures of the Centre and its surroundings, results of the survey done among the students, teachers and visitors to the Centre and the results of the field visits.

The teachers told that the team, which comprised of students who are speech impaired, was given training using sign language. "However, we did not face any difficulty in facilitating the students to undertake this research project as they were doing the project like any other ordinary children," said Hashimiya Al Sayed, Deputy Director of the Centre.

"The Centre offered all help, support and encouragement for the project by providing the transport and other facilities in addition to follow up by the concerned officials on the requirements of the students to complete the research work," said Shaikha Al Suwaidi, a coordinator in the Centre.

She said the Centre wanted the students to participate in the educational forum and all the contests associated with it on par with other normal children.

The Map Middle East conference organized by Dubai Municipality in cooperation with GIS Development, with the theme, "GeoSpatial Convergence - The Next Step," had embraced all aspects of geospatial technologies and their applications.