{
  "id": 5626233,
  "title": "Al Noor Centre outlines plans for services for people with visual disabilities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/al-noor-centre-outlines-plans-for-services-for-people-with-visual",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf Times",
    "slug": "gulf-times",
    "url": "https://www.gulf-times.com/article/732588/qatar/al-noor-centre-outlines-plans-for-services-for-people-with-visual-disabilities"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Al Noor Centre for the Blind has announced plans to improve its services and programmes for individuals with visual impairments, stated its executive director, Mishal bin Abdullah al-Nuaimi. According to a report by *Al-Raya, the centre aims to create an inclusive educational and rehabilitation setting that utilizes modern technology to boost the skills of visually impaired individuals, foster their independence, and enable them to engage actively in society. Al-Nuaimi elaborated that the centre's development initiatives extend beyond educational programs to encompass enhancing learning settings, expanding assistive technologies, developing staff, and broadening services for beneficiaries. These initiatives align with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly its emphasis on inclusion, equal opportunities, and facilitating individuals with visual disabilities to access education and services and fully participate in society.\n\nThe centre has broadened its range of programmes and activities, which include sports supervised by specialized coaches and initiatives aimed at enhancing Braille reading and writing skills. Al Noor Centre offers learning environments customized to meet the needs of beneficiaries across various age groups. Al-Nuaimi clarified that the centre's educational services are structured into three primary phases. The first phase is early childhood education, catering to children aged three to six via specialized international programs like VIISA (Vision Impaired In-Service America) and INSITE, focusing on skill development during their crucial formative years. The second phase is basic education, where curricula approved by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) are tailored to address the unique requirements of students with visual impairments. This is succeeded by the inclusion phase, in which the centre continues to offer academic and technical assistance after beneficiaries transition to schools throughout Qatar. The centre places particular emphasis on children with visual impairments who also have developmental or intellectual disabilities, delivering specialized therapeutic and rehabilitation programs aligned with internationally recognized standards to enhance cognitive and motor abilities and bolster independence and self-reliance. Al-Nuaimi emphasized the centre's commitment to staying abreast of technological advancements by providing assistive technologies, including screen-reading software, electronic Braille devices, smart Braille note-takers, and applications for individuals with low vision. These tools facilitate access to information and elevate beneficiaries' participation in education. He further highlighted that human resources development remains a top priority, with specialized training programs and workshops designed to augment the skills of teachers and specialists, equipping them with the latest educational and rehabilitation techniques. The centre is also upgrading and modernizing its educational and recreational facilities to establish a secure, stimulating environment and enhance the overall experience and quality of services provided to beneficiaries. Moreover, Al Noor Centre extends support to families through early intervention programs for children from birth to age three and training and guidance programs for parents, reinforcing the family's pivotal role in rehabilitation. The support services system comprises specialized units such as the Library Unit, Educational Curriculum Unit, and Braille Unit, which produces and adapts curricula, provides educational resources, and trains beneficiaries in Braille reading and writing using contemporary tools and technologies.",
  "summary": "Al Noor Centre for the Blind has outlined plans to enhance its services and programmes, executive director Mishal bin Abdullah al-Nuaimi has said.In a report published by the Arabic daily *Al-Raya on...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}