Mrs. al-Assad visits regional conference of mentally disabled

Syria's First Lady Asmaa Al-Assad visited last night the first regional conference on the special Olympic for Individuals Mentally Disabled and attended part of the conference third-day deliberations, a Syrian newspaper said today.

A-Thawra daily noted that the first lady held meetings with a group of disabled children and their families as well and visited the artistic exhibition held on the meeting sidelines.

The exhibition included paintings and handicrafts of the handicapped children. Supervisors gave presentations to the first lady on the exhibition and children taking part at it who came from various centers of mentally disabled children in Syria.

"All works and paintings are distinguished due to the status of those children," al-Thawra reporter said.

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

She added that the ministry is putting programs and plans to help those of special needs overcome their sensitive conditions 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 step 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 better in their societies.