MGM once again sponsored the Conference on Intellectually Disabled People in Asia organized by the Charity Association of Macau Business Readers as one of its initiatives in raising public awareness on social inclusion. The Conference, held at MGM Macau’s Grand Ballroom on Monday, was the beginning of a series of activities planned to further promote social inclusion through art workshop and sporting events within the month of April.
A number of international speakers were invited to share ideas and insights at the Conference on Intellectually Disabled People in Asia on the topic of social inclusion for 300 audience members from various fields, including Special Olympics athletes and coaches from all over the world, government officials, representatives from local community associations, school students and teachers, as well as MGM’s management team members and Volunteer Team. One of the speakers, Program Specialist from UNESCO Institute, Dr Natalia Amelina, gave a presentation on the digital inclusion of intellectually disabled.
Mr. Emmanuel Bishop, a 20-year-old athlete with Down syndrome, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on the topic of My Abilities – The Story of a Special Champion. He can play violin and speak four languages.
He said, “Down syndrome is a part of me, and it is with my disability that makes me who I am. This is a great opportunity for me to show my full-self through this conference. I hope to inspire people with intellectual disabilities to express themselves as individuals without embarrassment, and to inspire the rest of the people to see people with disabilities as part of the community.”
He also shared his personal story and offered a wealth of insights on how to successfully realize innate talents, inspiring the audience members to be more actively engaged in social inclusion, and deepening the understanding of how life with intellectual disabilities can be tackled and conquered with success.
Mr. Grant Bowie, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, also delivered a speech on Social Inclusion in Workplace: It Begins with Understanding and Respect. He said at the event, “As an employer, we understand that no individual is perfect, and only together can we create perfection. At MGM, we strive to foster an environment where we embrace people of different background and we make sure they are treated with equality, respect and dignity.”
