Sand Dune Safari or Dhow Sea Excursion

Buffet Dinner Sheraton – Al Maha Hall

Monday, 23 April, 2007

Enabling Human Rights for All

Announcing a Shafallah Center partnership to develop a core disability rights resource that can be utilized in diverse settings by worldwide disability organizations and advocates
                                   
Janet Lord, Partner, BlueLaw LLP
Joelle Balfe, Senior Policy Associate, BlueLaw LLP
Mary Ennis, Executive Director, Disabled Peoples' International

Launch of Best Buddies and Shafallah Center Initiative         

Preview of Best Buddies® and the Shafallah Center’s social inclusion project fostering friendship between people with special needs and their typically developing peers

Keynote Address:

Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies®

Implications of Genetics in Prevention and Care of Children with Special Needs

Examples of how the medical application of genetics is integral in the improvement of human health. Each year, about 6% of the world-wide total births are children born with genetic disorders or birth defects of genetic or partially genetic origin making genetic services an essential part of the Shafallah Center.

Dr. Hatem El-Shanti, Shafallah Genetics Medical Center
Dr. Khaled Abu-Amero, Shafallah Genetics Medical Center

Art Exhibition

Documentary Screening and Q&A

Normal People Scare Me
Aspiring teen filmmaker Taylor Cross captures life and living with autism through interviews with over 65 fascinating subjects with Asperger’s syndrome or autism

Taylor Cross, Co-director
Keri Bowers, Co-director

Tuesday, 24 April, 2007

The Tangible Success of Shafallah Programs

First hand presentations on the ongoing academic, family and community endeavors by the Shafallah Center staff

Sameera Merza Mohammad Al-Qassimi, Deputy MD, Shafallah Center

Documentary Screening and Q&A

The Collector of Bedford Street
Fundraiser and community activist Larry Selman’s inspiring story about his journey to maintain independence in society          

Alice Elliot, Independent Documentary Filmmaker, Welcome Change Productions
Larry Selman, Community Activist

Media Blitz Luncheon in Sports Hall

Giving guests an opportunity to collaborate and network with leaders in the media and disability worlds whilst experiencing and learning about their worldwide disability awareness efforts via documentaries, public service announcements, radio shows, magazines, books, and organizations

The Power of Public Service Advertising: How Autism Speaks and the Ad Council Came Together to Bring the Urgency of the Autism Epidemic into the Spotlight

Screening of Autism Everyday followed by an influential demonstration and discussion of how a successful and effective public service campaign was created to raise national awareness on autism in the United States
                                   
Suzanne Wright, Founder, Autism Speaks
Priscilla Natkins, Executive Vice President & Director of Client Services, Ad Council
Andy Shih, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, Autism Speaks

Reception and Gala Dinner
Four Seasons Al Mirqab Ballroom

Wednesday, 25 April, 2007

Depart for Shafallah Center

Tim Sebastian, Chairman of the Doha Debates

Promoting Public Awareness: Cultural Considerations
Lebanon, Russia, France, U.S.

This panel discussion takes raising public awareness to the next level by addressing the wide variety of cultural and socio-economic considerations within our international community

Rita Merhej, Director, Friends of the Disabled, Lebanon
Denise Roza, Director: Perspektiva, Russia
Chantal Sicile-Kira, Radio Host, Autism One Radio International, France & U.S.

Sesame Workshop Film and Presentation

Extraordinary clips of Sesame Workshop’s efforts to raise disability awareness for children everywhere, followed by an expert presentation on disability and children’s media

Barbara Duncan, Protection & Advocacy, Inc., Editor, Disability World
Evelyn Abouhassan, Senior Legislative Advocate, Protection & Advocacy, Inc.

Time to Get Equal Campaign

Presentation and Q&A by SCOPE; a British disability organization, under the patronage of Cherie Booth, QC. SCOPE aims to achieve equality for disabled people while cultivating a society in which they are valued and have the same human and civil rights as everyone else

Sharon Collins, Executive Director of Operational Services, SCOPE
Zara Todd, SCOPE, Equality 2025, Whizz-kidz

Self-Advocacy and Family Member Panel Discussion

A unique opportunity to experience some of the success stories of affected individuals who have advocated for equal rights and opportunities

Moderated by:
Lyle Romer, President, TASH; Executive Director, Total Living Concept
John Duganne, Assistive Technology Advocate
David Glicksman, Family Member

Emmanuel Yeboah, Self-Advocate