Abu Dhabi academy to train 6,000 educators in disability inclusion by 2030

A new online academy in Abu Dhabi is aiming to give educators the skills they need to make classrooms more welcoming for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Unified Champion Schools Inclusion Academy, run by the Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education, hopes to reach 6,000 teachers, coaches and community leaders worldwide by 2030.

The programme has been running since August and offers a course that takes between seven and nine hours to complete. It is available in Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Russian. The academy is designed for classroom and special education teachers, school principals, coaches, and even parents with an interest in inclusion. Selected participants can also apply for in-person training.

Salyne El Samarany, vice president of the centre, told The National that the academy addresses a gap between strong inclusion policies and what educators can realistically put into practice. She cited a 2020 Unesco report which found that 25 per cent of teachers across 48 education systems said they needed more professional development in teaching students with special needs.

Ms El Samarany said the aim is to move from treating inclusion as mere access to treating it as belonging. She explained that sport is a powerful tool for helping students with and without disabilities build relationships and develop skills that carry into employment. The course focuses on practical strategies rather than theory, so that educators know how to intervene and connect in real situations.

The Special Olympics plan is to prepare 250 regional trainers who will help deliver inclusion learning to 6,000 educators by 2030. An international engagement for educators is also expected around the Special Olympics World Games in Santiago, Chile, in October 2027.

The Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education was set up in 2020 with a $25 million gift from President Sheikh Mohamed, building on the legacy of the Abu Dhabi 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity later provided $11 million to support the international mission of the centre.