Thursday 29 / January / 2026
Muscat: The second edition of the Oman Inclusion Conference (OIC) 2026, jointly organised by Inspire Educational Consultancy and Al Jisr Foundation, was recently hosted at ABA Oman International School, with inspiring keynote presentations, practical workshops, and strong community engagement. The conference brought together educators, parents, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates from across Oman to deepen understanding and strengthen inclusive education practices.
Building on the success of the inaugural conference in February 2025, OIC 2026 reaffirmed its commitment to advancing inclusive learning across the Sultanate.
Sarah Al-Mawaali, OIC organiser and Inclusive Learning Strategist, said: "Inclusive education is the foundation of a thriving society. When schools, families, and communities collaborate, every child is empowered to reach their full potential. The Oman Inclusion Conference brings together educators, parents, and practitioners to share knowledge, build skills, and implement evidence-based strategies. It demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusive education and highlights the importance of equipping educators to create equitable learning environments for every student."
The conference opened with welcome remarks from Craig Williamson, Head of School at ABA Oman International School; Dina Al-Khalili, General Manager of Al Jisr Foundation; Janaab Sayyid Dr. Shariffa Qais Al-Said, Educational Consultant to Oman’s Ministry of Education; and Nadia Sultan of Inspire Educational Consultancy. Participants were intrigued by the keynote addresses from Samantha Garner, Wellbeing & Cognitive Specialist, on The Impact of Inclusion, and Hatem Mahmoud, School Transformation Catalyst and IB Consultant, on The Ideal vs. the Reality, offering valuable insights into inclusive education in practice. Samantha Garner, in her keynote stated, "Inclusion is a journey, not a destination. Through shared experiences, continuous learning, and incremental improvements, we can achieve transformational change that benefits every student, family, and educator."
The Oman Inclusion Conference is the brainchild of the Inspire Educational Consultancy team - Nadia Sultan (Founder & Educational Psychologist) and Sarah Al-Maawali. Nadia stated, "Our vision is to build a strong, inclusive education system where support services are accessible, effective, and embedded into school culture.
The Oman Inclusion Conference demonstrates how collaboration across sectors creates a powerful ecosystem for student success. By working closely with schools, educators, and families, we help align inclusive practices, support children’s learning and development, and equip professionals with the tools and strategies they need to meet diverse learner needs. Through dialogue, innovation, and capacity building, the conference advances inclusive education, strengthens student support services, and showcases best practices that will shape the future of learning in Oman."
The conference was proudly supported by Al-Jisr Foundation, a non-profit organisation that champions sustainable development projects aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Dina Al-Khalili, General Manager of Al-Jisr Foundation, stated, "We are proud to foster initiatives that turn dialogue into meaningful action and support inclusive education across the country."
The conference featured a diverse selection of 19 workshops, of which 12 were accessible in both English and Arabic thanks to simultaneous translation services. Additionally, all keynote sessions as well as the plenary offered the same simultaneous translation services, ensuring accessibility for all participants.
Sessions included Parent Wellbeing and the SEN Journey by Samantha Garner; Educational Services Provided to Students with Disabilities by Oman’s Ministry of Education by Heba Al-Busaidi; Trauma-Informed Approaches to Inclusion and Learning by Raja’a Sultan; and a plenary session led by Samantha Garner and Inspire Educational Consultancy. Additional workshops explored Sensory Regulation and Circuits in the Classroom Setting by Denise Hill; Inclusive and Adaptive Teaching and Learning Approaches That Remove Barriers and Promote Success by Sandra Tibbles; ADD/ADHD: A Workshop for Parents on the Neurodivergent Brain by Clodagh Cahill; and Systematic Inclusion: Practical Tools for School Leaders to Embed a Whole-School Inclusive Culture by Hatem Mahmoud.
Further sessions included Building a Compassionate Community: Self-Compassion for Parents and Teachers by Alya Sultan; Supporting Independent Working Skills and Resilience in SEN Students by Samantha Garner; Universal Design for Learning by Ujala Chaudhary and Apoorva Joshi; Understanding Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) by Arabella Prowle; Reach to Teach: Practical Tools for Teachers to Connect with All Learners by Hatem Mahmoud; AI in Education by Kirk McCullough; What Is Occupational Therapy and How It Supports Child Development and Learning by Ibrahim Madhoon; Language and Communication: A Focus on Auditory Processing Disorder by Tasneem Hassan; The Power of ‘We’: Co-Creating Inclusive Education Through Cross-Disciplinary Teams by Vanessa Sequiera and Nadia Sultan; Understanding Terminology Linked to Neurodiversity: A Workshop for Teaching Assistants by Dr. Masooma Al Saleh; BTEC: Alternative Pathways to Success by Denise Hill; and Connecting with Bricks: Communicating with LEGO and Metaphors by Clodagh Cahill.
With around 250 participants in attendance, OIC 2026 aimed to provide continuous professional development for educators at all levels of a school system, independent practitioners, as well as healthcare professionals in a position to support inclusion including psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and behaviour specialists. OIC 2026 also catered to parents, caregivers and advocates with the view of equipping all participants to support learners with diverse abilities and needs while fostering a support community for families through collaboration, shared understanding, and exchange of best practices. The conference provided a dynamic platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange, empowering participants to create equitable learning environments for all students, and building a sense of community for all involved.
For the first time, the Oman Inclusion Conference included an Exhibitors Hall, where local clinics and centres working to support student development and learning showcased their services and resources. Partners and supporters included Al Harub Medical Centre, Eunoia Clinic, The Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities, and numerous other organisations committed to advancing inclusive education in Oman. For more information, visit www.nsinspire.com/oic or to find out about future related events contact [email protected]
