By the Gazette Editorial Board President Sisi's visit and speech to last week's conference-cum-exhibition on communications and information technology in support of people with a variety of disabilities pointed clearly to the commitment of the state at the highest level to the optimisation of the full spectrum of Egypt's human potentials in such a manner as would consolidate the drive to build the equal-opportunity society. Though last week's was the seventh such annual conference, the idea of dedicating a regular event to highlight issue of how to make communications and IT technology accessible to people with disabilities deserves special valuation and tribute. Held at al-Manara, Cairo's newest international convention centre, the conference activities and the presentations therein reflected the keenness of the state and IT firms to ensure that people with a variety of disabilities are enabled to receive and enjoy the same services that are accessible to other citizens. As a matter of fact, this segment of the population has made magnificent achievements, especially including excellence in arts, literature and sports – three of the domains of human activity that demand outstanding competitiveness, innovativeness, skillfulness and perseverance. The names and legacies of the Doyen of Arabic literature, Dr. Taha Hussainو composers Sayyed Makkawi and Ammar ash-Shire'i and the world's probably only vision-impaired photographer Nazih Guirgis Meharib continue to hold very distinctive standings. In the field of sports, Egyptian Paralympics' record is indeed admirable – so much so that Egypt could easily assemble a 44-athlete-strong mission to the 2016 Rio summer games. The yield was both impressive and magnificent, with Egyptian Paralympics winning 3 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals. It was, therefore, on the basis of such remarkable achievements that President Sisi hailed the contributions of people of disabilities as a model to follow in innovativeness and perseverance; hence their right to enjoy maximum state support and empowerment. And it is in this context that the field of communications and information technology that state action in the direction of social and cultural empowerment of people with disabilities is quite meaningful and commendable since it is through technology accessibility that people of special needs can integrate with the society and lead normal and dignified life. Emanating from this understanding, the projected launching, as unveiled by President Sisi in his speech to last Monday's conference at Manarah hall, of a specialised technology centre for services to people of special needs acquires special importance and value. For it constitutes a concrete and meaningful step on the path for building the equal opportunity society.
