SHARJAH, (Pakistan Point News - 23rd Apr, 2019) To ensure that art and culture is accessible for all community members, including the hearing-impaired, a programme in Arabic and English sign language will be available inside Sharjah museums as part of the "Let’s Live Together" initiative.
Launched by the Accessibility Services and Programmes Department of Interpretation and education at Sharjah Museums Authority, the programme was developed as part of SMA’s social responsibility agenda, and aims to integrate all groups in the community to create a more inclusive museum environment for both the hearing and the hearing-impaired.
The initiative, which took place at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, offered a range of activities in sign language, such as a presentation of five unique collections taken from various Sharjah museums, including the Islamic Civilisation, Archaeology, and Calligraphy museums.
Manal Ataya, Director General of SMA, said that the initiative, which coincides with Arab Deaf Week, seeks to develop a culture of understanding and aspires to connect diverse groups by highlighting the needs of people with hearing impairments and the challenges facing them.
"Everyone in our community is entitled to an enjoyable museum experience that meets their needs, and although every museum is different, we can still maximise their social impact," noted Ataya.
‘Let’s Live Together’ is inspired by the principles of the year of tolerance and comes as part of SMA’s ongoing efforts to position museums as accessible spaces for all members of the community and to meet the needs of the public by providing the best services and engaging through educational programmes.
