Equality overdue for the disabled

The national strategy for empowering those with disabilities is a giant step forward

If you don’t have a disability, you may not be aware of the social, financial, psychological and emotional consequences of incapacity and impairment. You may not realise the painful discrimination that people with disabilities have to live with every daiy. Imagine yourself in a wheelchair, trying to negotiate a gigh kerb or an unfinished pavement as you seek to enter a building or some form of transport or attempt to enter a bathroom that fails to accommodate you. Apart from these and many similar situations being inconvenient, they are disempowering and incredibly stressful.

As a fair and progressive society, we ought to support those with disabilities. There is no doubt that over the past decade our country has made great strides towards improving the lives of disabled people, but we must do more for these individuals.

In this respect, the launch this week of the national strategy for empowering people with disabilities by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was a big step forward.

The six-part policy involves health and rehabilitation, education, employment, mobility, social protection and family empowerment, public life and sports. The move is aimed at creating an inclusive society for those with special needs and their families. More importantly, it enshrines tolerance and non-discrimination into our culture and law.

However, the initiative is not just about equality of opportunity, it’s also about economics. It will help many people join the workforce, enabling them to be more economically independent. Sheikh Mohammed rightly pointed out that “disability is, in fact, the inability to make progress and achievements”.

The inclusion of all who wish to be productive members of society makes the country stronger and benefits us all. Supporting people with disabilities to reach their full potential will have the same effect.