Doha, Qatar: The increasing international attention to people with disabilities at all levels reflects a growing understanding that disability should not be an obstacle to the involvement of this important segment of society in activities and work that enable them to actively engage in building the community. It also reinforces the bonds of justice and equality for all individuals, given their active contribution to all aspects of social, economic, and political life.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is participating with UN agencies and its partners in celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities under the theme “United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with and by persons with disabilities.” This involves encouraging interested countries with large populations of people with disabilities due to wars and diseases to fully respond to the needs of this segment, which is often considered marginalized and underappreciated in several countries.
According to UN statistics, 80 percent of the approximately one billion people with disabilities live in developing countries. It is estimated that 46 percent of seniors aged 60 and older have disabilities, and approximately one in five women may experience a disability during their lifetime. Additionally, one in ten children is estimated to have a disability.
In Qatar, Executive Director of the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Special Needs Amir Al Mulla stated that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has allocated 50 schools for additional educational support for specific categories of students with disabilities who are capable of learning. He noted that the ministry worked to make these additional educational support schools comprehensive therapeutic and educational institutions that fulfill the needs of this group.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Al Mulla explained that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has provided specialized specialists, teachers, and teacher assistants in schools for additional educational support, adding that the ministry offers training workshops for professionals in the field. He emphasized the provision of assistive technology for students, adapting curricula and tests to align with the capabilities of students with disabilities. He underlined that efforts have been made to create a supportive environment and ensure accessibility for students with disabilities, especially those with visual, motor, and autism-related impairments.
In this context, Al Mulla highlighted that the state issued Law No. (2) of 2004, allocating 2 percent of job opportunities for persons with disabilities. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Social Development and Family provides various services related to the employment of persons with disabilities. He emphasized their inclusion in all aspects of the National Health Strategy, especially since the state offers comprehensive health services and surrounds them with holistic health care. The Qatar Rehabilitation Center is considered one of the outputs of this strategy, providing community and vocational rehabilitation programs.
Regarding the sports aspect, Al Mulla noted that the Qatar Paralympic Committee works to unleash the capabilities and potential of persons with disabilities in sports. He pointed out significant achievements in international sports competitions, including securing the first position in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the fourth position in the Arab world in the World Para Athletics Championships held in London. Additionally, persons with disabilities achieved several medals in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games. As for the role played by the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs, Al Mulla affirmed that the society’s responsibility is linked to the rehabilitation and care (academically, educationally, socially, and psychologically) of persons with disabilities. This includes establishing professional centers for the rehabilitation and training of individuals with various types of intellectual disabilities, improving their quality of life, providing appropriate support for achieving independent living, and raising social awareness about issues related to persons with disabilities (prevention and coexistence).
Regarding the society’s main projects, Al Mulla highlighted that the society offers 14 diverse projects for its members who are persons with disabilities. He pointed out that these projects align with the society’s goals, aiming to rehabilitate persons with disabilities through training, education, and support, which includes financial assistance for enrollment in special education centers, partial payment of registration fees for private schools and kindergartens, and contributions toward covering the tuition fees for higher education for persons with disabilities.
Al Mulla pointed out that the Society offers six projects related to providing medical equipment for individuals with mobility disabilities. These projects include the provision of prosthetics, creating a suitable environment for persons with disabilities, providing hearing aids through “hearing aid batteries for the hearing impaired,” as well as providing visual aids (for the blind and visually impaired) and equipping the vehicles of persons with mobility disabilities.
Al Mulla emphasized that the society spares no effort in providing financial support for treatment and meeting essential needs, including financial assistance for persons with disabilities, covering treatment fees, providing food supplies during Ramadan, and offering Eid clothing for individuals with disabilities in the age group of 16 to 30.
The Executive Director of the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs concluded his statements to QNA by highlighting the main registered disabilities in the society, which include multiple disabilities, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, hearing disabilities (deafness and hearing impairment), visual disabilities (blindness and visual impairment), down syndrome, and autism of both Qatari and non-Qatari individuals, both males and females, from birth to the age of 60.
According to the WHO, there are over one billion people with disabilities worldwide, constituting approximately 15 percent of the global population (about one in every seven people). The number of people with disabilities is expected to continue rising due to population aging, exacerbation of chronic health conditions, and other factors such as road traffic accidents, falls, violence, humanitarian emergencies like natural disasters and conflicts, dietary factors, and drug abuse.
During the launch of the United Nations Strategy on Disability Inclusion in June 2019, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need for the UN to be a role model and stressed the importance of improving the organization’s standards and performance regarding the integration of the disability perspective in all aspects of work, from headquarters to the field.
