- Info
Josélia Neves
College of Humanities and Social Sciences (TII), Hamad bin Khalifa University
Josélia Neves is Professor of Translation Studies at the Hamad bin Khalifa University. Her special interest lies in developing action research projects that contribute towards making communication environments accessible to all.
FIFA 2022 World Cup: A present that can change a country’s future understanding of diversity, inclusion and accessibility
In 2018, an important public announcement was made in national media: ‘Qatar aims to make FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 the most accessible in tournament’s history’. In the years that followed, slow but progressive steps were taken to ensure that a Middle Eastern country would be ready to welcome fans from all parts of the world, including those with a disability.
With the approaching of the mega tournament, efforts to turn an aim into a reality intensified, and on the day the first ball is kicked, the country will had done all it could to live up to the expectations it had created for both international visitors and local residents.
In this presentation I will provide an overview of how a communicative approach to inclusivity and accessibility contributed to social change in the Arab world. Achievements and challenges will be showcased, and a critical reflection will consider the possible impact of the ongoing efforts on individuals, a country, a region, and possibly the world at large. These will be given from the perspective of an action researcher who is actively engaged in finding solutions for real problems in collaboration with all the stakeholders involved in the planning, development, delivery and consumption of accessibility solutions that, rather than following the principles of universal design, are user-sensitive and thoughtful of human diversity.
