Windows 10 to enhance learning experiences at Al Noor Training Centre for persons with disabilities

Microsoft is upgrading over 150 units at Al Noor training Centre to Windows 10 and partners with the centre to support the Al Noor Assistive TechX 2015 event, focused on improving functional capabilities of individuals with special needs.

November 4, 2015 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates: As part of the “Upgrade your World” Campaign, Microsoft is upgrading the entire computer infrastructure of Al Noor Training Centre for persons with disabilities to Windows 10, in a bid to streamline its training programmes and improve access to IT services throughout the centre. Microsoft has also partnered with the centre for their upcoming awareness initiative, the Al Noor Assistive TechX 2015 event to be held in Dubai on 12th and 13th November 2015 which brings together individuals with special needs, parents and solutions providers with a focus on Assistive Technology. 

The centre is upgrading more than 150 computers from Windows 7 and later OS versions to enable its students and staff fully embrace the benefits of Windows 10, especially the easy access features that come with it. Al Noor Training Centre helps individuals with special needs achieve their highest potential by providing them with the same opportunities through professional training and care so they can easily integrate into the wider community.

Windows 10 offers several programmes and settings that can make the computer easier and more comfortable to use for individuals with disabilities, and additional assistive technology products can be added if required. Windows comes with a basic screen reader called Narrator that will read aloud text that appears on the screen, and can be set up to provide audio descriptions for videos.

Additionally, other programs and hardware are compatible with Windows 10, such as those that are available to help the visually impaired, i.e. screen readers and Braille output devices. Settings are also available to help make information on-screen easier to see –magnifying the display or adjusting colours to make the screen easier to see and read, and unnecessary animations and background images can be removed. 

Mohammed Arif, Windows Business Group Lead, Microsoft Gulf said “Microsoft strives to empower every person and organisation to do more and achieve more. Windows 10 is built around this principle and its features can be easily accessed by any individual, regardless of their circumstances. We are happy to support Al Noor Training Centre with the Windows 10 upgrade which will certainly transform the learning experiences at the centre, and also simplify ways in which students access IT services given the unique capabilities designed for people with special needs. We hope that our partnership with the centre for the Al Noor Assistive TechX 2015 event in November will deliver the desired results.”

Isphana Al-Khatib, Director at Al Noor Centre said “We are grateful for the continuous support from Microsoft in boosting the use of new technologies at our centre. Windows 10 will certainly empower our students and staff with new ways of applying IT in their daily activities at the centre. We are also grateful for Microsoft’s partnership with the centre for the Al Noor Assistive TechX 2015 event, which will help the community to be appropriately aware, connected, informed and educated about the manifold benefits and advantages of Assistive Technology.”

Windows also makes it possible to use Speech Recognition to control the computer, and the mouse pointer and keyboard controls can be adapted to the needs of each user.

Microsoft is supporting the upgrade process at Al Noor Training Centre by providing free Windows 10 volume licencing as part of its year-long "Upgrade Your World" campaign, through which it will partner with 10 global non-profit organizations and donate a total of $10 million to help them with their causes.  

In relation to this, Microsoft has also partnered with Al Noor Centre in helping it organise the Al Noor Assistive TechX 2015. The two-day long expo is dedicated to create awareness on how assistive technology (AT) can improve functional capabilities of individuals with special needs and empower them to reach their highest potential.

The Al Noor Assistive TechX 2015 will be held at Al Noor Indoor Sports Auditorium, Al Barsha Dubai. The exhibition will bring together children and Individuals with special needs, parents, community, AT manufacturers and suppliers, therapists and specialist speakers in the field to create awareness towards the use of AT as a means to increase the communication, participation and productivity of people with disabilities.