The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) held a workshop under the title "Mechanisms of Inclusive Design for Facilitating the Access of People with Disabilities to Services and Public Facilities", over two days with the participation of 50 engineers from 34 local authorities under the project "Promoting the Rights of People with Disabilities in Palestine", implemented in partnership with EducAid and funded by AICS.

During the opening session of the workshop, APLA's Executive Director, Eng. Abdallah Anati clarified that this activity is implemented through the Engineering and Planning Hub of the Technical Hub Program implemented by APLA in cooperation with LGRP-GIZ. The aim is to enhance knowledge among local authorities' engineers concerning the issues of people with disabilities empowerment, integration and inclusion, and guaranteeing the adherence of local authorities to international standards for planning the future urban restrictions and interventions.

Meanwhile, Veronica Berotzi, Project Director from EducAid, presented the project goals of enhancing the capacities of local authorities and the civil society in issues of persons with disabilities empowerment and integration, and the contribution to promoting the rights of people with disabilities by increasing their social and economic empowerment.

The international expert in architecture, Fabricio Mitzlana, introduced the key tools and concepts simulating the integration of people with disabilities to access public facilities and services, in addition to the importance of having designs that accommodate human diversity in terms of skills and needs. Whereas, the project coordinators, Bayan Dairiyah and Tahrir Batran, from EducAid, presented the challenges facing persons with disabilities in accessing public services and facilities.