UOS marks White Cane Day with immersive awareness event

The event was attended by Dr Amina Al Marzouqi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr Salama Al Rahoomi, Dean of Student Affairs (Women), and Professor Ahmed Alomosh, Director of the DRC, along with a large turnout of students from various colleges.

Immersive learning and empathy building

Professor Alomosh described the initiative as a vital educational experience designed to deepen students’ understanding of visual impairment. He highlighted that the practical approach effectively fosters awareness and empathy, noting that the students’ enthusiasm reflected the university’s success in promoting inclusion and awareness of the white cane’s symbolism.

Experiential activities and sensory exploration

The programme featured several interactive experiences designed to simulate life with visual impairment. The highlight was the “Café of Darkness”, where participants dined in total darkness under the slogan “Discover the taste of life in a darkness that illuminates your senses.” Another key activity, “Find Your Way with the White Cane,” offered students the chance to navigate simulated campus paths, giving them insight into daily mobility challenges faced by blind individuals.

Innovation and creative engagement

An innovation corner showcased assistive technologies from Top Land, Al Natiq Technologies, Visual Power by Mircot, and the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Support Centre, alongside UOS’s own DRC, which hosted a Braille-based workshop titled “Build Your Word in Braille.”

Additionally, students engaged in creative expression at the “Senses Art Corner,” painting with touch and sound under the theme “Create with Your Senses and Let Feelings Paint Your Canvas,” and took part in the “Debate of Light,” where they exchanged ideas on inclusion and awareness under the slogan “Share Your Light and Elevate Your Community’s Awareness.”