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Dubai /Â WAM
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday launched the National Strategy for Empowering People with Disabilities, during his visit to Ministry of Community Development.
The National Policy for Empowering People with Disabilities revolve around 6 pillars including health and rehabilitation, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment, mobility, social protection and family empowerment, and
public life and sports.
He said that the National Policy for Empowering People with Disabilities aims to create an inclusive society for people with disabilities and their families, through policies and services that accommodate their needs and requirements.
HH Sheikh Mohammed also announced the establishment of an advisory board for people with disability, and directed the appointment of a dedicated person in every service-related organisation who will be in charge of facilitating the service of people with disabilities.
The advisory board will work on coming up with solutions to the challenges in order to achieve the national strategy, and said that the strategy aims to better serve different members of the society, Sheikh Mohammed noted.
“Disability is in fact the inability to make progress and achievements. The achievements that people of determination have made in various spheres over the past years are proof that determination and strong will can do the impossible and encourage people to counter challenges and difficult circumstances while firmly achieving their goals,” he said.
He noted that the new strategy features approaches for future comprehensive development of all segments of society. “We also named the national policy after people of determination to recognise their monumental efforts in making achievements and overcoming all challenges.”
He said that people with disabilities will be called “people of determination” from now on, and that those responsible for the services at organisations will be called “services officers for people of determination.”
Present during the visit were HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, Najla bint Mohammed Al Awar, Minister of Community Development, and Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director- General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai.