Families Summit: intellectual disability inclusion

September 14, 2025 / 5:22 PM

Sharjah 24: In the presence of Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), and Sue Swenson, President of Inclusion International, the Families Summit kicked off on Sunday at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The summit is part of the preparatory activities for the global conference "We Are Inclusion," hosted by Sharjah from September 15 to 17.

Dr Samia Saleh, Director of Al Wafa School for Capacity Development in SCHS, explained that the Families Summit coincides with the Self-Advocacy Summit, as part of the preparatory activities for the We Are Inclusion 2025 conference. She noted that it aims to exchange experiences between parents in general, and mothers in particular, on the issues and challenges facing their children with intellectual disabilities, and to find solutions.

Bringing international experience to one platform

Speaking exclusively to Sharjah 24, Saleh added that this summit will issue several recommendations that will significantly enrich the conference. She explained that the presence of 80 families of different nationalities from around the world contributes to bringing together local and international experiences and expertise to find solutions that suit everyone.

Supporting people with intellectual disabilities and their families

Dr Samia Saleh pointed out that Inclusion International represents people with intellectual disabilities and their families in all fora, and its membership includes approximately 112 organisations from around the world.

The "We Are Inclusion 2025" conference is scheduled to launch on Monday at Expo Centre Sharjah. It will continue for three days, with the participation of 74 countries, 125 organisations, 134 self-advocates, 152 speakers, 59 sessions (9 parallel sessions), and more than 500 participants.

The conference will feature broad and in-depth discussions on the future of inclusion and the empowerment of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. It will present a comprehensive roadmap through central axes that embody the transition from community initiatives to implementable national public policies.