The United Nations have declared 3rd December as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, also known as "World Disabled Day", aiming to enhance public awareness, knowledge and acceptance of disabled persons.
With an objective to promote an awareness of disability issues, the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities and integration of persons with disabilities in the main stream of each aspect of the social, political, economic and cultural status of their communities, the day provides opportunities for participation by all stakeholders – Governments, the UN system, civil society and organizations of persons with disabilities – to focus on issues related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development, both as beneficiaries and agents.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is keen to support this group through providing health care services to them, just like the other members of the community, in addition to the constant emphasis on the importance of involving them in the efforts meant to remove any difficulty in providing therapeutic and rehabilitative health services to them.
International Approved Date: 3/12/2011
Regionally Approved Date: 8/1/1433H
Theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities:
“Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development”
Targeted Categories:
- Persons with all types and kinds of disabilities of all ages.
- Families of the disabled and the small community that surrounds them.
- Non-governmental and social institutions.
- Health staff.
- Rehabilitation staff.
- Health education staff.
- Media.
- All segments of the society.
Objectives and Mission of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities:
- The right of disable persons to participate entirely in the life and development of their respective societies through the Through the Ministry of Health is implementing the World Program of Action Concerning Disabled Persons, which is approved by the World Health Organization.
- Raising awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities for the disabled of access to health care.
- Raising awareness of the medical care services provided by the Ministry of Health for the disabled and their families to facilitate their lives
- Furthering the participation of persons with disabilities in social life and development on the basis of equality.
- Mainstreaming disability in development is a strategy for achieving equality for persons with disabilities.
- Finding innovative ways and means by which persons with disabilities and their families can be further integrated into the development agenda.
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Definition of Disability:
A physical, sensory, mental, communicative, educational or psychological impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the disabled person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities and making him dependent on others, or in need of special tool, special training and special rehabilitation to use of it.
Types of Disability:
Visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental disorders, and physical disability, learning disability, speech or language impairment, emotional and behavioral disorders, multiple disabilities, and other disabilities that require special care. Each of these disabilities is different for each individual in terms of its severity and the possibility of treatment.
Status of Disabled People Worldwide:
Persons with disabilities make up an estimated 15 percent of the world’s population. Almost one-fifth of the estimated global total of persons living with disabilities (around 110 - 190 million), encounters significant difficulties. Furthermore, a quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as care-givers or family members.
Involving Disabled People in the Development:
Persons with disabilities encounter many disadvantages in their societies and are often subjected to stigma and discrimination. They remain largely marginalized, disproportionately poorer, frequently unemployed and have higher rates of mortality. Furthermore, they are largely excluded from civil and political processes and are overwhelmingly voiceless in matters that affect them and their society.
Participation Experiences:
Experience shows that when persons with disabilities are empowered to participate and lead the process of development, their entire community benefits, as their involvement creates opportunities for everyone – with or without a disability. Including persons with disabilities and their communities in developmental efforts is important to advance the development agenda.
Thus it is imperative that development efforts around the world include disability issues when determining policies, programs, as well as allocating funds for developmental programs and projects. Mainstreaming disability in development is a strategy for achieving equality for persons with disabilities.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is both a human rights treaty and a development tool, provides an opportunity to strengthen developmental policies related to the implementation of internationally agreed development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), thereby contributing to the realization of a “society for all” in the twenty-first century.
Disabled People in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
The Saudi laws and regulations have granted exclusive rights for this segment of the community and has provided the means to maintain their rights, in order to ensure them a sound living and the ability to engage into all sectors of society through providing rehabilitation and healthcare services for them, as well as facilitating all the means that will enable them to enjoy their lives with their families, in light of the provision subsidies and facilities, taking into account their needs, and prioritizing them in all government sectors.
What areas of disability and rehabilitation can the disabled people contribute to?
Awareness:
The disabled can raise awareness in the community about their rights, needs, potential and contributions.
Healthcare:
States should ensure the provision job opportunities in the field of medical care to persons with disabilities, give them the opportunity to participate in the development of appropriate strategies for them
Rehabilitation:
Persons with disabilities should be encouraged to involve themselves in rehabilitation, in order to enable them to reach and maintain the optimum level of independence and function.
Obstacles that Prevent the Disabled People from Enjoying their Rights:
Many disabled persons suffer from marginalization because of many reasons, including lack of understanding of the nature of the disability and the fear of dealing with it, being ashamed from the involvement with their community, poverty, living in remote places, lack of understanding of the ways of dealing with such cases, and ignorance of the role assigned to health facilities.
Negative Consequences of Non-Participation of People with Disabilities in Development Planning:
- Increasing the severity of disability.
- Deterioration of their disability.
- Hostility or introversion.
- Hindering prevention and treatment plans for diseases related to disability
- Increasing levels of unemployment and poverty.
Recommendations:
- The Participation of people with disabilities in the development process will have the greatest impact on their physical and psychological health, and it contributes to providing an effective member of the community rather than being a burden on others.
- States should ensure the development and supply of supportive services, including assistive devices and technologies, to assist people with disabilities to increase their level of independence in their daily living and to exercise their rights.
- States are responsible for ensuring the adequate training for employees, at all levels; those involved in the planning and provision of programs and services concerning people with disabilities.