Better Life For Mentally Handicapped conference

Under the patronage of Syria's Frst Lady, Asmaa al-Assad, the first Regional Special Olympic Symposium for Individuals Mentally Handicapped was opened Tuesday under the motto "a better life for individuals mentally handicapped."

Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dyala Haj Aref, underlined in an opening speech the importance of this symposium, the fist of its kind in the region, which comes within a long process of care Syria gives for the social welfare in all domains.

She added that the ministry is putting programs and plans to help those of special needs overcome their sensitive conditions and to effectively participate in the activities of the society.

Regional President of the Olympiad for Middle East and North Africa, Ayman Ali Abdulwahab, said the symposium constitutes an important station in the framework of the Olympiad, adding that the international organization witnessed a lot of achievements, health and sport programs this year to make the mentally disabled integrate in their societies.

The symposium is organized by Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in cooperation with the Regional Presidency of the Olympiad. Later the first session of the symposium was held at the Umayyad Palace for Conferences in Damascus, it is dedicated to discuss the society view of the mentally handicapped.

Representatives from International Labor Organization, the US University of Olympiad for the Handicapped and Egyptian University of Ain Shams took part in the meeting.

They reviewed concepts and reasons of the disability and the role of societies in spreading ideas to take care of the handicapped and those of special needs. Following the session, Minister Aref opened an art exhibition on the sidelines of the symposium. The exhibition includes different medical equipment, physical therapy tools and books related to the disabled and individuals of special needs.