Lab dedicated to people with disability making good progress

Muscat - A lab on the development of services and programmes for people with disabilities kicked off on Sunday, coinciding with the international day for people with disabilities with a theme that touches on the topic of unity in action to activate Sustainable Development Goals for people with disabilities.

The launching event was held under the patronage of Shaikh Al Fadhl bin Mohammed al Harthy, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers.

Organised collaboratively by the Ministry of Social Development, the Oman Vision 2040 Follow-up Unit, and in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, private sector entities, civil society organisations, and professionals engaged in the field of disabilities, the laboratory aims to align its services, programmes, initiatives, and projects with the “Oman Vision 2040”.

The focus is empowering individuals with disabilities by prioritising health, education, and rehabilitation services incorporating cutting-edge technologies. Furthermore, the laboratory seeks to address regulatory challenges within the sector and propose sustainable financing programmes for services.

Badr al Yahyai, assistant general manager for Persons with Disabilities, said, “The laboratory’s goals include designing measurable strategic objectives to fortify the sector of persons with disabilities, spanning quality of healthy life, educational and rehabilitation life, life at work, family, society and state, and the general capabilities pillar.” In conjunction with the laboratory’s activities, a series of events, seminars, and working papers are being organised to integrate and empower persons with disabilities in society.

This collaborative effort stems from the Forum for Persons with Disabilities, convened by the Ministry of Social Development in May 2023.

The forum aimed to amplify the role of individuals with disabilities in society, foster comprehensive accessibility, and augment the family’s role in the early intervention system.

Expectations are high that the laboratory will yield numerous initiatives, projects, and investment opportunities to enhance governance and organisation within the sector. The ultimate objective is to bolster early intervention, empowerment, and integration programmes for people with disabilities across academic, professional, and societal realms.