By Goth Mohamed Goth
A well-attended graduation ceremony was held on Thursday for 30 Youth with Hearing Impairment on Computer and Office Management Skills the training was funded by the Finland based Abilis Foundation and implemented Somaliland Deaf Association (SODA) the event was sponsored by the Somaliland Diaspora Agency, SOMTEL and Somaliland Union of Victory (SUV).
Mr. Abdi Abdullahi Hirsi(Dayaxweerar),the chairperson of Somaliland Diaspora Agency speaking during the event said, “ I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the students with Hearing Impairment who have completed their training on Computer and Office Management Skills course and secondly, I would like to thank all those individuals and organizations who contributed to the training of the students.
The chairperson of Somaliland Diaspora Agency further urged Somalilanders living in the Diaspora to empower people with disabilities to become independent and employable through using technology.
Mr. Khalid Ali Hussien, the head of Somaliland Deaf Association (SODA) speaking during the function said, “ The role of assistive technologies in facilitating the success of employees who are disabled, irrespective of their disability,” he explains. “As part of this, I emphasised how assistive technology has made it less costly to employ people with disabilities as well as empowering those employees to do things we thought were unimaginable.
“I also like to highlight the importance of adopting inclusive human resource solutions and technology solutions that enable people with disabilities to access employment opportunities and work comfortably in organisations; for example, making their websites accessible for people with visual and hearing impairments so they can apply for jobs.
Among those in attendance were fellow students, hearing impairments, parents of trained students, Diaspora, Ministry of Education & Science, Ministry of Youth & Sports, Maroodijeex Regional Authority, Somaliland Society of Australia, as well as members of community-based organizations with special needs in Somaliland and other host communities.
