Dubai International Rehabilitation Forum-REHAB 2008 held its 6TH session under the slogan Beyond Inclusion and Partnerships from March 10- 12 2008 at the Dubai International Conference and Exhibition Center. The participants adopted the following recommendations in the closing session of the conference

The participations in the REHAB conference express their sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance for their continuous support to the REHAB conference as well as their unlimited support for the people with special needs

The participants also express their appreciation for the accomplishments made in the UAE through the integration of the persons with special needs in the community as well as the passing of Federal Law 29/2006 related to the persons with special needs in the UAE

The participants in the conference hail the specialized establishments and centers which have contributed to the positive change in the community vis-avis the persons with special needs. The participants recommend that more efforts be exerted in order to achieve a complete partnership between the persons with special needs and the specialized centers along with other individuals, establishments and sectors. Thus, all individuals and establishments will play a social and humanitarian role to assist in taking care of the persons with disabilities as this issue has social dimensions which are not confined to a defined group of people

The participants recommend the preservation of the people with special needs rights in the employment, cultural, educational, sports, psychological, social and other fields. The participants also call for the use of the expertise available in the Arab countries and the United Nations pertaining to the rights of the people with special needs and the support of the people with special needs' projects for their full integration in society. The persons with disabilities have also to be empowered in the educational and training fields by enrolling them in schools and educational programs that can guarantee their full integration in the community. The accomplishments made by persons with special needs who reached leadership positions in their community should also serve as a model for others. Such individuals have succeeded in overcoming their disabilities

The participants in the conference call for the use of the alternative medicine and rehabilitation to treat people with disabilities. They also recommend that psychological and social support be provided to the persons with special needs in order to make their case heard

The participants insist on the use of technology-aided treatment methods as the world has witnessed a major progress in this field which has contributed to the emergence of appropriate solutions that can speed up the integration of the persons with special needs in the community and make their life easier

The participants in the conference also encourage the collaboration among universities and educational institutions in the field of research and development on the handicap issue and persons with special needs

The participants stressed the need to provide job opportunities for the persons with special needs in all public and private establishments, institutions and companies. The participants salute the establishments and companies in Arab countries which have provided appropriate jobs for the persons with special needs

The participants express their thanks to all the establishments' representatives, individuals, professors, scholars and speakers who have come from all parts of the world to take part in and support the Dubai International Rehabilitation Forum-REHAB Dubai 2010, especially Nakheel -the Platinum Sponsor, Etisalat- the Technology Partner ,Dubai Nationality and Residency Department- the conference Strategic Supporter, the Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing, the International Society for Physical and Medical Rehabilitation and UNDP

The participants also thank the specialized companies which have participated in the exhibition which was held throughout the conference and which came from Germany, Sweden, Austria, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Pakistan, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the UAE

The participants' thanks are extended to the Dubai Club for special sports, INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions and Health Management, a member of INDEX Holding for organizing this conference in an Arab country