Assiut University organizes artistic workshops for school students with visual and hearing disabilities to discover talents .

Prof. Ahmed El-Minshawy, the president of Assiut University, highlighted the university's commitment to community service and environmental development. The university recently conducted two workshops: the first, titled "Coloring, Paper Weaving, and Foam Clay," was held at Al-Amal Elementary School for deaf and mute boys. The second workshop, entitled "Drawing Silent Nature: Teaching Shadow and Light," took place at Al-Amal Technical Secondary School for deaf and hard-of-hearing boys (both preparatory and secondary levels). Both workshops were supervised by Prof. Mahmoud Abdulalim, the university's vice president for community service and environmental development, and implemented by Dr. Rehab Ahmed Zaki, an assistant professor of hand textiles, who also serves as the disability officer at the Faculty of Specific Education and the head of the workshop.

Prof. El-Minshawy emphasized the importance of such training workshops in uncovering artistic talents and developing the skills of students with disabilities. He noted that the university is eager to strengthen collaborations with various educational institutions to enhance support for these students, rehabilitate them, and help them integrate into society.

Prof. Mahmoud Abdul Alim explained that these workshops align with the Presidential Initiative "A New Beginning: To Build a Human Being," which aims to promote the inclusion of people with special needs in society and empower them to succeed in various fields.

The technical workshops were overseen by several faculty members, including Dr. Yasmin Al-Kahki, dean of the Faculty of Specific Education; Dr. Mohammed Abdul Basit, vice dean for community service and environmental development; Dr. Hala Salah al-Din, head of the Art Education Department; Dr. Sahar Al-Alfi, director general of special education; and Dr. Mona Abu al-Talab, director of the special education department.

Dr. Rehab Ahmed Zaki shared that the "Coloring, Paper Weaving, and Foam Clay" workshop targeted 34 students in kindergarten and primary education, focusing on essential skills such as basic drawing techniques, color mixing, making paper scraps, methods of weaving on paper, and using foam clay.

The second workshop, "Drawing Silent Nature: Teaching Shadow and Light," involved participation from field training students in the Faculty of Specific Education, Department of Art Education (Level IV, focusing on hearing disabilities). This workshop included various activities such as art and sign language workshops, targeting eight students from the technical secondary level. The aim was to teach them valuable skills, including self-expression, social communication development, and creative thinking, allowing them to showcase and positively invest their artistic talents.

The workshops also featured contributions from several specialists and educators, including Dr. Lili Sayed, a plastic arts specialist at the Faculty of Specific Education; Ms. Hala Karam, an expert teacher at Al-Amal School for Deaf Girls; Ms. Marwa Al-Sayed, an art education teacher at the deaf primary school for boys; Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Zaki, a social worker and integration officer at Arab Unity School; and many others involved in supporting the students.