Zarrow Center at OU Partners with Organization in Abu Dhabi

Zarrow Center Partners with Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – Increased transition and vocational experiences for students with intellectual limitations is the aim of a joint research partnership recently entered into by the Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment at the University of Oklahoma and the Abu Dhabi Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination.

A key focus of the partnership will be knowledge exchange and cooperation in conducting research. As part of this, the two organizations will work to modify curriculum and lesson packages developed through the Zarrow Center, which will then be used in ZHO vocational training program for students of determination. The two organizations will also partner in data collection and dissemination.

“We are very excited about partnering with ZHO, said Kendra Williams-Diehm, professor and director of the Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment. “Their organization is providing excellent services to people of determination in Abu Dhabi, and the support from the Abu Dhabi Emirate is amazing. As we work with ZHO in using our materials, we believe that we in turn will gain knowledge from Abu Dhabi’s excellent services and be able to use these findings to make programs in the United States even stronger.”

Under the U.A.E. National Policy for Empowering People with Special Needs, people with special needs or disabilities are referred to as “people of determination” to recognize their achievements in different fields.

“Disability is, in fact, the inability to make progress and achievements,” said His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. “The achievements that people of determination have made in various spheres over the past years are proof that determination and strong will can do the impossible and encourage people to counter challenges and difficult circumstances while firmly achieving their goals.”

“Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination represents the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Emirate in supporting, empowering and enabling people of determination,” said Secretary General of ZHO His Excellency Abdullah AlHumaidan. “As an organization, we are continually striving for excellence in services and support provision for our people of determination, seeking to identify advances in disability support with clear and measurable benefits for people of determination.

“The establishment of a collaborative partnership with the University of Oklahoma serves as a reflection of the organization’s dedication to the empowerment of people of determination and supporting employment inclusion by developing required skills identified through the labor market and we are proud to work with a leading university for the benefit of people of determination,” HE AlHumaidan added. “We are certain that this partnership will enhance educational and vocational outcomes for our students, as well as facilitating extensive collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two entities toward advancing support provision for people of determination on an international scale.”