Enhancing access to facilities for those with disabilities

ABU DHABI: The Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi reviewed the latest developments within the Abu Dhabi Strategy for People of Determination 2020-2024 during a Virtual meeting of the strategy’s task force leaders. Each task force leader is responsible for one of the strategy’s six pillars, which are Education, Employment, Social Care, Accessibility, Health and Rehabilitation, and Enablers.

ACCESSIBILITY: On behalf of the Accessibility workteam,mohammedhamadbinfahdalmuhairi, Executive Director of Transport Sector, Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), presented the team’s achievements and highlighted the pillar’s six leading initiatives being implemented in partnership with relevant authorities.

Reference was specifically made to the ‘Access to Buildings, Facilities, Transportation and Housing for People of Determination’ initiative, which aims to develop a comprehensive programme for the modernisation and development of legislation to ensure the ease of access and use of facilities, establishments and services by people of determination.

The ‘Access to Inclusive Sports Programmes’ initiative was also highlighted during the presentation. The initiative seeks to improve the readiness of sports facilities and the skills of coaches to ensure the participation and inclusion of people of determination in all sporting activities and events, in line with the ‘Sport for All’ principle.

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION: The Health and Rehabilitation pillar, led by Dr. Hamed Al Hashemi, Director of Strategic Affairs, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH), aims to provide people of determination and their families with comprehensive and integrated rehabilitative health care systems, covering necessary medical care, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

This year, the pillar’s working team will focus on two main initiatives. The first one is the development of a unified and integrated health assessment framework for people of determination. The second initiative is the launch of the ‘Early Intervention’ programme that seeks to establish thorough detection, diagnosis and early intervention systems to help children of determination and those at risk of delayed development. The programme will be implemented by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) in accordance with the international best practices.

ENABLERS: As for the Enablers pillar, Dr. Bushra Al Mulla,executivedirectorofcommunitydevelopment Sector, DCD, discussed the key initiatives under the pillar. One of the initiatives highlighted during the meeting was the establishment of an integrated care system for people of determination and their families in Abu Dhabi to ensure their direct and smooth access to quality and affordable health, rehabilitation, educational and social services.