Saudi Arabia works to make public, private buildings more accessible

From Arab News:

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- A three-day workshop began at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) on July 4 with 33 government departments and the Human Rights Commission participating to discuss ways of making existing public and private buildings disabled-friendly.

Muhammad Al-Fadhl, chairman of the JCCI board of directors, expressed the chamber’s readiness to cooperate with all concerned departments to cater to the needs of the disabled.

“The disabled should be given the utmost care and attention to help them integrate into society and not feel isolated,” he said, adding that the workshop would consider all of the needs of the disabled and the hurdles they face when entering public buildings.

Al-Fadhl added that discussions would also include ways of making new buildings that are currently under construction disabled-friendly. “The disabled are getting increased attention from government and private departments and now 3-4 percent of the total employees in these two sectors are disabled. This is also a result of the programs launched by the Kingdom’s chambers of commerce and industry,” he said.

He added that one of these programs was started jointly by the JCCI and the Savola Group three years ago.

He also said a permanent office to promote the employment of the disabled was opened adjacent to the JCCI three years ago. Mustafa Sabri, secretary-general of the JCCI, said representatives of the traffic police, engineers, architects, contractors and consultants are participating in the workshop.

He also said the JCCI would rehabilitate 300 buildings in Jeddah over the next eight months with a view to making them suitable for the use of the physically challenged.

He added that owners of important buildings, which are expected to be visited by the disabled, would be supplied with plans showing them how to make their buildings disabled-friendly.

He also said equipment to make buildings disabled-friendly are sold at six or seven places in Saudi Arabia. “The JCCI will import such apparatus from abroad for distribution free of charge or at reasonable prices,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Commercial Bank, the Takaful Welfare Organization and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance jointly launched a project to make 20 mosques in Jeddah disabled-friendly.

Ulfat Qabbani, head of the JCCI’s Social Responsibility Department, discussed the problems facing the disabled in the workplace, and when entering buildings, offices and mosques. Sultan lauds charities caring for the disabled

Meanwhile in Riyadh, Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and chairman of the Disabled Children’s Association (DCA), commended on Saturday the role of charitable organizations in taking care of disabled people.

Addressing a Human Rights Commission (HRC) meeting in Riyadh, the prince spoke about DCA activities and the Prince Salman Center for Handicap Research, as well as SCTA efforts in creating more job opportunities for Saudis.

Bandar Al-Aiban, president of HRC, briefed the prince on his organization’s efforts in providing necessary care to disabled people in line with instructions from government departments.

“We also ensure government directives and regulations in protecting the rights of disabled people are implemented,” Al-Aiban said.

Referring to efforts to take care of such people, he said the government organized a conference on disability to set out an Arab and international plan for them. “The HRC serves all groups of people, including the disabled, whom we consider an important section of our society,” he said.

He said the government has established a number of specialized centers to take care of the disabled and give them education and training.

They are also given scholarship to continue their studies inside and outside the Kingdom. The government also provides job opportunities to these people.