Dubai: Dubai will have a database for people with disabilities by 2017 to help develop policies and services that best integrate them into society, it was announced on Monday.
There is currently insufficient statistics about people with disabilities, so compiling a database is a huge step for the emirate, which plans on becoming 100 per cent disability-friendly by the year 2020, an official said during a two-day Dubai Inclusive Development Forum 2015 here.
Establishing the city as a fully inclusive, disability-friendly city by 2020 is the objective of the ‘My Community’ initiative, launched in 2013, with the aim of providing equal opportunities for people with disability.
A roadmap to achieve this ambitious goal was unveiled by Aisha Miran, Assistant Secretary-General of Strategy Management and Governance Sector at the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai. “The strategy will focus on five main components: inclusive education, health services for people with disabilities, job opportunities for people with disabilities, disability-friendly infrastructure and social services.”
Next month, an international consultant will evaluate Dubai to identify current gaps and issues that need to be worked on.
“The evaluation process should be completed by the third quarter of 2016. After it’s completed we will put in strategies and legislations,” she said.
Aisha said each government department will then provide related services. For example, the Roads and Transport Authority will work on making transport accessible to people with disabilities while Dubai Health Authority will provide needed health services. The Executive Council will oversee and make sure all the relevant entities abide by the strategy.
Aisha said the strategy was put in by officials and experts. However, before starting the implementation process, input from people with disabilities were taken into consideration while coming up with strategies.
“Some of the complaints we received during our field visits included lack of job opportunities, health insurance for people with disability, lack of resources and problems in infrastructure,” she said.
Aisha said there is currently no data for people with disabilities in Dubai but the executive council is planning to compile data to have one by the end of 2016 or early 2017 with statistics on the number of people with disabilities and the type of disabilities they have.
“Next month an awareness campaign will be launched to raise awareness about people with disabilities. It is also important for the people with disabilities to do their part as well and take part in the strategy,” Aisha said.
