Forum held on integration, empowerment of disabled

Muscat: Tasks of the first Forum for Persons with Disabilities kicked off on Monday under the motto of “Integration and Empowerment”.

The three-day forum, which is organised by the Ministry of Social Development at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, is aimed at enhancing the role of persons with disabilities in society, enable them to get comprehensive access to services and consolidate the role of the family in the early intervention system.

The forum seeks to review the products, systems and services rendered to the disabled, facilitate the exchange of information and ideas and enhance the innovation system for this segment of society. It also aims to raise social awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities.

Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development, said that the forum also targets the development of partnerships among different sectors (the public sector, the private sector and civil society institutions) and encourages these sectors to cooperate with each other to upgrade the services rendered to this segment of society.

Dr. Laila pointed out that the ministry is embarked on workshops to establish a national laboratory for the development of services for persons with disabilities. Towards this end, the ministry is studying options to expand channels and to open new tracks of specialisations with higher education institutions, the minister added.

The forum also targets relevant technical institutions, schools, universities, colleges and specialized institutes.

As part of the forum, a preparatory programme titled “Laboratory for the Development of Programmes and Services for Persons with Disabilities” is being conducted in cooperation with Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit. The overall objective is to empower persons with disabilities and harmonize laws pertaining to them.

The opening ceremony of the forum was held under the auspices of Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat.