From early screening to practical job assessments, the Ministry of Family showcases solutions built around everyday independence.
- An AI-powered pilot explores early autism screening in just two to three minutes.
- The Silent Challenge helps visitors understand everyday communication barriers faced by people with hearing impairments.
- Virtual recruitment activities let employers assess practical skills and job readiness.
- Rehabilitation students lead creative workshops using their own designs and skills.
A job interview, a first conversation with a stranger or the search for the right support for a young child can bring very different challenges. At Dubai World Trade Centre, AccessAbilities Expo 2026 is putting practical responses to those moments in focus. Running from 19 to 21 October, the event features Ministry of Family initiatives spanning early screening, communication, creative skills and employment. The aim is to make inclusion tangible.
For parents seeking guidance about their child’s development, knowing when to ask for specialist support can be an important first step. At the expo, the Ministry of Family and Emirates Health Services are demonstrating an AI-powered pilot application that screens for potential indicators of autism spectrum disorder in children aged 18 to 24 months. The preliminary screening is estimated to take two to three minutes. It is a pilot under evaluation, development and testing, not a diagnosis.
Communication can be just as important in everyday encounters. The expo’s “Silent Challenge” invites visitors to experience simulated communication barriers faced by people with hearing impairments, while learning the sign language alphabet and how it can be used in daily interactions. It starts with awareness. For visitors, the exercise offers a practical way to consider how communication can become more accessible.
A handmade keepsake can carry more meaning when its maker has helped shape the whole experience. At the Ministry’s pavilion, students from rehabilitation centres lead workshops in which visitors create acrylic items and decorate pieces using designs made by People of Determination. The finished creations become magnetic keepsakes. The activity also gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their practical and creative skills directly to the public.
Moving from training into paid work requires a different kind of support. The Ministry’s “Virtual Elevator” experience walks visitors through vocational rehabilitation, from identifying strengths and assessing abilities to training, practical work and production. A separate recruitment simulation, developed with ImInclusive, includes a practical or virtual task, a short interview and a candidate profile summary. Employers can use the experience to consider candidates’ abilities with appropriate adjustments.
These examples sit within a wider UAE focus on improving access to healthcare, education, rehabilitation and employment. The country’s National Policy for Individuals with Autism Disorder also identifies early detection and clear educational and vocational pathways as priorities. Progress depends on practical support. Families and individuals need to be heard, too.
At the expo, visitors can speak directly with specialists, explore Ministry services and suggest improvements based on their own needs. AccessAbilities Expo runs until 21 October at Dubai World Trade Centre. For families, employers and service providers, the pavilion offers a chance to ask questions, see the initiatives in action and consider how more accessible everyday experiences can be built!
