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Call for law to protect rights of people with special needs

DUBAI — The need for a law to protect the rights of special individuals has been underlined by the recommendations committee of the first UAE Down's Syndrome Forum that was held at Rashid Hospital recently.

Presenting recommendations for children with Down's Syndrome (DS), the committee members also suggested that children with DS should be exempted from medical and educational fee.

"Children with DS will, from September, attend mainstream schools as the minister of health has given a go-ahead and asked a committee to conduct a relevant study,” informed Dr Manal Jarour, member of the UAE Down's Syndrome Support Group, Group Medical Committee Coordinator, and Specialist Paediatrician, Primary Health Care, Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms).

She said that other recommendations include increasing awareness in society about DS, working towards establishment of medical and rehabilitation foundation, unifying efforts among all DS support groups in the UAE to become one society, to have a yearly forum that will include participants from all over the world, and to form a committee to follow up with top officials.

Other members of the recommendations committee include Dr Badriya Al Awar, Head and Consultant Paediatrician, Dubai Hospital, Dr Fadel Al Najar, Consultant Paediatrician, Al Zahra Hospital, and Dr Mohammed Zouhair Mahmandar, Specialist Paediatrician, Dubai Hospital.