Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission Opens Forum on Technology in the Lives of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Launches Best Technical Solution Competition for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Under the patronage of His Excellency Engineer Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz bin Salem Al-Ruwais, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, opened today the Forum on Technology in the Lives of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, which aims to enable technology for the deaf and hard of hearing, and to spread digital awareness among all members of society, especially people of determination.

Al-Ruwais noted, in his speech, the wise leadership's – may God preserve it – interest in the deaf and hard of hearing, having provided them with the support and services they need, and established what makes their lives run smoothly without obstacles.

The Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission said that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Commission organized this forum with their partners in the public and private sectors, out of belief in the importance of this cherished group, by launching several initiatives to encourage innovators to serve the deaf and hard of hearing technologically.

During the forum, Al-Ruwais launched the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's competition ("Best Technical Solution for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing"), which aims to develop and create innovative digital applications to serve this cherished segment, and help them by harnessing all modern technologies to live their lives normally and carry out their duties to the fullest, enhance their role in society, remove the difficulties they face in various fields, develop their skills and hone their diverse talents to serve their community through the optimal use of technology, in addition to gaining a close understanding of the challenges they face and how to overcome them.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Communications and Information Technology Commission, in partnership with King Saud University, the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf), Microsoft, Alam (ELM), and Huawei, have launched several initiatives aimed at spreading digital awareness among the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, and providing an opportunity for innovators, entrepreneurs, and the private sector to offer services to the deaf and hard of hearing, in order to unify efforts, strengthen purposeful and constructive cooperation, and integrate with fellow government entities to benefit from experiences offered in this field.