Dubai needs more social services for its disabled

Dubai: The lack of local skills in the field of social services is one of the main challenges that the 11,785 people with disabilities (PWD) living in Dubai face, an official from the Community Development Authority (CDA) said during a symposium.

The event was organised by the CDA and aimed to discuss the challenges and priorities that should be considered in the process of turning Dubai into a disabled people-friendly city.

The latest statistics estimates that 3.5 per cent of the emirate population are PWD. A social survey conducted by the CDA this year shows that there are 11,785 PWD living currently in Dubai, 6,596 out of them are UAE locals. The figure, based on the Dubai Statistical Centre estimations for the emirate’s population, would be more than 8,000 in the coming five years.

Khalid Al Kamda, director general, CDA, said that it is highly important to activate the policy of protecting the rights of PWD, which was prepared by the CDA and approved by the Executive Council in 2012.

“Organisations working in the field of PWD in the UAE provide mainly health care and day-care services. The lack of services fails to give those people opportunities to develop and live fair lives. Furthermore, all the services stop when the child reaches the age of 18, this causes them to not be prepared to join higher education institutes and not skilled enough to be employed, which increases their family’s psychological suffering.”

Immediate solution

He also said that around 78 per cent of the PWD currently in Dubai are between the age of 18 and 60. This means that an immediate solution is needed to enhance their inclusion, empowerment and improve their chances to live independently.

“Making the whole of Dubai a disabled people-friendly city requires combined efforts of government authorities and public benefit organisations to identify the gaps and work toward addressing them,” he added.

Representatives from Emirates Association for the Visually Impaired, Emirates Association for Deaf, Emirates Association for Autism, the Association of people with disabilities, Dubai Club for the disabled, Emirates Association for Down Syndrome, Emirates Association for Human Rights, Atheqa club for the disabled in Sharjah and the Society of Friends of Multiple Sclerosis Patients, attended the symposium.

The gathering identified the lack of local skills in the field of social services as a main challenge that requires collaboration with leading educational institutes. Other priorities include the development and enforcement of policies for the protection and care of PWD, funding system (governmental, insurance scheme and private), services for PWD after the age of 16 and an integrated strategic plan to upgrade and implement programmes in the areas of education, rehabilitation, employment and accessibility.