National Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities coming soon: Bahrain minister

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain today joins hands with the world nations in marking the International Day for Awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder, established by the United Nations in 2008.

The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared the 2nd of April as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism, to help them lead meaningful lives as an integral part of society.

Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. People of all genders, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds can be diagnosed with ASD.

The 2022 theme for World Autism Awareness Day is “Inclusive Quality Education for All”. On this occasion, the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Jameel Humaidan, said Bahrain has made remarkable progress in understanding the nature of autism and its accompanying disorders.

Labour ministry, Humaidan said, is drafting an executive plan for the National Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2022-2026), which will be launched during the second quarter of 2022.

He stressed that supporting the rehabilitation of children with autism is one of the priorities of the five-year plan.

12 centres, BD1.2 million

The minister also revealed supporting all civil rehabilitation centres with an annual budget of 1.2 million dinars.

There are now 12 centres concerned with providing services to people with disabilities (those with determination), including six centres for people with Autism: Alia Center for Early Intervention, Tawafa Center for Special Education, Al-Wafa Centre for Autism, Al-Rashad Centre for Autism, Al-Amal Centre for Early Care and Al-Amal Institute for Special Education. A total of 200 students benefit from the services of these institutions.

"This is in addition to the 25 private centres licenced by the ministry for autism spectrum disorder," the minister said.

Electronic ID

The total number of students with autism spectrum disorder registered with the ministry is 1,100, who also benefit from the monthly disability allowance.

In 2020, Bahrain launched an identity card integrated with the disability ID and an electronic identity chip for people with disabilities. "There are now about 13,000 people registered with the ministry, including those with autism spectrum disorder," the minister said.

The minister also called on renewing identity cards with the upgraded version, which includes disability data and enables them to obtain all the benefits granted by the previous disability identification card.

Discounts

These include discounts from institutions and shops of 5 % to 50%, sticker for private parking from the General Traffic Department, a path at the King Fahd Causeway Corporation, 50% discount on the bridge crossing fees, access to all facilities and free games in parks, and complexes, in addition to facilities in government hospitals and health centres.

Cardholders also get free medical supplies monthly, and 11 government institutions and more than 100 institutions in the private sector provide various privileges and discounts to holders of the integrated card with the ID and disability icon.

The minister said work is underway to include more institutions in the private sector to support the ID card for people with disabilities.