Helping the disabled
Mansour unveils Dubai’s plan to provide equal rights and services to people with disabilities
The Dubai Disability Strategy 2020, which aims to provide equal rights and services to people with disabilities in Dubai by the year 2020, been revealed by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Shaikh Mansour said the strategy will cover five main pillars: education, health care, employment, social protection and universal accessibility.
“Many persons with disabilities have managed to overcome various environmental, social, and system barriers to seize opportunities and achieve their aspirations. However, many barriers remain, which prevent them from participating fully in society,” he said.
The strategy aims to enhance Dubai’s global status by securing full and equal rights of persons with disabilities to ensure persons with disabilities obtain full rights in a fair manner and are able to thrive in an inclusive environment with suitable, accessible and quality services.
It also aims to raise the community’s general awareness on the importance of including persons with disabilities in all aspects of community life.
“Our collective role is one that aims to reach international standards, applied in inclusive international organisations and communities, as well as local governments and institutions, which ensure the full inclusion of persons with disabilities; they are an inherent part of our social fabric with equal rights, opportunities and duties,” said Shaikh Mansour.
The strategy
Shaikh Mansour said the strategy has a clear plan that details all involved parties’ roles for the upcoming years, with the objective of providing fair and equal rights to all persons with disabilities, adding that the strategy seeks to allow persons with disabilities to enjoy basic rights and services, which ensures social justice, equity, and protection. “We are committed to using all available means to create a friendly and inclusive environment that empowers persons with disabilities and provides them with services that meet their needs and their families’ needs in regards to accommodation, education, health care, entertainment and sports, as well as their access to public facilities,” he said.
Shaikh Mansour said relevant governmental entities have been assigned to lead each of the five strategic pillars and form teams with the concerned parties, to efficiently execute the plans within the set timelines.
Education
“With regards to education, we seek to achieve inclusion across all educational levels — from early years to universities, vocational education, and lifelong learning. Additionally, it is vital to have the resources for early screening, proper psycho-educational assessment, and support in creating the least restrictive learning environments,” said Shaikh Mansour.
Health care
“With regards to health care, we are in the process of planning and executing a policy that outlines plans for a comprehensive early detection through comprehensive newborn and developmental screening, assessment and early intervention programmes. Also, health care providers need to offer health care services that cover basic and specialised health needs of persons with disabilities, from identification and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation,” he said.
Employment
“On the level of employment, we are working on developing community-based centres for those above 18 to have access to proper advocacy and capacity-building platforms that facilitate skill development and enhance networking, thereby promoting community engagement, gainful employment and entrepreneurship.”
Social
“As for social protection, we will be extending social services to persons with disabilities and their families to guarantee they attain all that is necessary to protect their rights and dignities.”
Shaikh Mansour said these objectives cannot be achieved unless an accessible environment is created, one that follows globally approved standards in our infrastructure, information technology and transportation systems, to transform Dubai into a disability-friendly city by 2020.
The strategy aims to enhance Dubai’s global status by securing full and equal rights of persons with disabilities, to ensure persons with disabilities obtain full rights in a fair manner and are able to thrive in an inclusive environment
Protection of rights
In line with Dubai’s commitment to promoting inclusion, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued the Local Law No. 2 in 2014 for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Dubai.
The law ensures that persons with disabilities are entitled to all the rights prescribed to them; that they are respected and treated with dignity; and that their potential as empowered and productive members of society is recognised, said Shaikh Mansour.
“The law calls on all concerned parties in Dubai to provide essential and basic services to persons with disabilities, such as affordable health care and rehabilitation services; education at all stages; public services, which include the use of roads and public transportation; facilitated access to public amenities; and ensuring that their surrounding environment is easily accessible,” he said.