College of Health Sciences (CoHS) at Gulf Medical University, in collaboration with Special Olympics UAE – Health Division, successfully conducted an Inclusive Care Training Session on Monday, 2 February 2026, at the GMU campus.
The session was organized by Dr. Maha Zaitoun, Associate Professor and Program Director, BSc. Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, as part of the College’s ongoing efforts to strengthen inclusive, person-centered healthcare education.
The training fostered a strong interprofessional learning environment and was attended by students from multiple programs under the College of Health Sciences, including:
- Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology
- Bachelor of Science in Optometry
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Master of Physical Therapy
- Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences
The session aimed to enhance students’ awareness and practical skills in delivering inclusive healthcare services for People of Determination. Through interactive discussions and applied examples, students were introduced to key principles such as dignity, equality, empathy, and compassionate care within clinical and healthcare settings.
The training was led by Mr. Bahij Khouzami, an expert in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with specialization in Autism. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), International Behavior Analyst (IBA), and a Professional Advisory Board Member of the International Behavior Analysis Organization (UAE and Azerbaijan). His practical insights and real-world experience added significant value to the session.
Students actively engaged throughout the program and shared positive feedback, highlighting the relevance of the training to their future professional roles and clinical practice.
Dr. Praveen Kumar, Dean, College of Health Sciences, expressed, “The educational value of such initiatives, emphasizing that activities of this nature play a vital role in equipping students with strong professional competence and preparing them to deliver inclusive, high-quality healthcare services.”
The College of Health Sciences extends its sincere appreciation to Special Olympics UAE – Health Division and the resource person for their valuable contribution to this meaningful educational initiative, which reflects the university’s commitment to inclusive education, interprofessional collaboration, and community engagement.
Student Feedback:
- 2025ASLP18 – AARAH DHILFAR SHEIK ABDULLA, “The event was quite engaging and informative being part of the Special Olympics session showed the importance of communication, respect, and inclusive care while working with individuals with special needs. Observing the role play enacted by the presenter as the patient and volunteer made the session interactive and provided a knowledge on practical application on the real-world clinical approach. Overall, it was a well-organized and informative experience attending the session.”
- 2025ML07 – ANEESA SHAHZAD, “ I am really grateful to our university for organizing the Special Olympics UAE session it was very informative. The speakers and professors were amazing and explained everything so clearly. It was inspiring and unforgettable, and I hope we have more sessions like this in the future.”
- 2025ASLP03 – MARYAM OMAR ISSA ALKHATEEB, “I found the session extremely interactive and informative, it helped me understand how important it is that people with intellectual disabilities get treated with consideration and understanding. The discussions and examples shared during the session increased my awareness about the challenges they may face in daily life. Overall, the session was insightful and encouraged me to be more mindful and respectful in both personal and professional settings.”
- 2025OPT04 – JUMANA ABBAS MITHIYA, “The talk was incredibly informative, the session was direct and to the point. I feel really confident fulfilling my role as a healthcare professional in Special Olympics, especially in my role as an Optometry student.”
- 2025OPT05 – ZAINA MAZHAR, “The lecture was highly informative and well-structured, providing valuable insights into the topic. I feel better prepared and more assured in my role as a healthcare professional when working with Special Olympics.”
- 2022ML14 – REEM MOHAMED HAMED ABUARAB, “The lecture was evidence-based and provided actionable clinical tips now feel better equipped to handle diverse patient populations and create a more accessible environment in my future practice.”
- 2022PT10 – SHAMA FATHIMA MOHAMMED, “The inclusion training session organized by Special Olympics UAE was a very valuable learning experience. It gave me deeper insight into audiology and different communication needs, which helped me better understand how people of determination perceive and process information. As a final year physiotherapy student, this training enhanced my awareness of how crucial clear, respectful, and patient-centered communication is while interacting with individuals with hearing and communication challenges. The session emphasized practical ways to adapt our approach, making interactions more effective and inclusive. Overall, the training was informative, meaningful, and truly worth attending.
