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Push to integrate special needs people with society

DUBAI — People with special needs, not only from the region but also from other Arab countries, are poised to become an integral part of society, what with the series of initiatives being planned by the authorities to carry out their objective of ensuring them the due place in society.

Setting up of a factory with special needs people as share-holders, annual mass weddings for special needs couples, establishing small businesses and raising funds through charity parties are some of the initiatives on the anvil.

All sections of society including corporate bodies, businessmen, musicians, film personalities and sportsmen have evinced keen interest in their welfare and have committed themselves to be part of the effort to integrate special needs people with society.

General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister has taken the lead in sponsoring the first of such initiatives, the mass wedding of 33 special needs couple on May 25. The Dh70,000 grant for each couple is aimed at integrating people with special needs in society, and this will be followed by other economic projects aimed at offering this segment an opportunity to lead a better life and to contribute to the country's development, Jamal Al Bah, Chairman of the Arab Family Organisation and Director General of the Marriage Fund, has said.

He said the first of its kind initiative targeted people with special needs in the region and Middle East under the slogan "No Handicap with Will," has received the full support of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and the UAE Defence Minister. The initiative will be an annual event aimed at helping this segment set up families and integrate into society.

The organisation was studying the feasibility of setting up a factory in Dubai to manufacture various tools and other products used by people with special needs including wheel chairs, desks, furniture and car accessories to suits different types of disabilities, he said, adding : "The study will be finished in six months and will also identify specialised partners."

"The unique feature would be the factory's capital base which would include share capital raised from special needs people. The factory would also be managed and run by them," Al Bah said, adding : "The project will be planned in such a way so as to meet the demand from the Arab region for tools and equipment used by people with special needs."

Besides the factory, the organisation was also studying the feasibility of setting up small businesses to help this segment lead a better life and contribute to the country's economy, said Yousif Al Hosani, the Arab Family Organisation's Vice-Chairman and Consultant of the Higher Committee for Human Resources.

"Businessmen, companies as well as government departments have extended full support to the initiative," he said, adding that a complete blueprint of these enterprises will be finished by the end of this year. Similar projects will be also initiated in other Arab countries to help serve people with special needs all over the region.

Haitham Al Hosani, the Organisation's General Manager said the organisation, in an effort to encourage companies employ special needs people, will hold an annual ceremony to honour companies which employ the highest number of these people. Besides, a special centre will be set up in Dubai to support people with special needs and to take care of their issues and demands from society, he said.

Ghanem Al Marri, Director General of Etisalat, said the corporate was keen on supporting the social and economic needs of people with special needs, while Abdullah Belkheir, prominent UAE singer and producer Suhail Al Abdoul, stressed on the importance of society as a whole supporting the cause.

"We are trying to get prominent singers to participate in the mass wedding party. Charity parties should also be held by singers and artists to garner support for the cause and make them feel they are not neglected," Al Abdoul said.

Abdul Rahman Mohammed, a prominent football player said the sports sector will not ignore its responsibility in supporting people with special needs. "We are here to play for this category and we will continue our support for them."