The following words and expressions, used in this code, have the following meanings:
Persons with disabilities
A person with a disability is one who is totally or partially disabled with respect to his/her bodily, material, mental, communicative, academic or psychological capabilities, to the extent that it compromises the ability of that person to meet his/her normal needs as compared to his/her non-disabled counterparts.
For the purpose of this code, "persons with disabilities" shall refer to individuals who have one or more of the following disabilities: visual disability, hearing disability, cognitive disability, motor disability, learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, behavioral problems, pervasive developmental delay, multi-disabilities, and other disabilities which require special care.
The set of medical, psychological, social, educational, informational and regulatory procedures, which aim at preventing or limiting the effect of disabilities and at pre-empting and easing the consequences thereof.
To provide care services to persons with disabilities dependent upon the degree of their disability, as well as their medical and social situation.
A coordinated process to utilize medical, social, psychological, educational and professional services to enable the disabled to achieve the maximum feasible degree of functional efficiency; to enable persons with disabilities to adapt to the needs and requirements of their natural and social environment, as well as developing their capabilities to attain independence and be productive members of society to the extent possible.
The Supreme Council
The Supreme Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities.
The Government shall guarantee the prevention, welfare and habilitation services to persons with disabilities and their families, and will encourage institutions and individuals to contribute to charitable activities within the field of disability. The Government shall guarantee to provide services to persons with disabilities in the following areas:
providing medical, preventive and habilitation services, including genetic counseling, laboratory testing and analyses for the early detection of disease and necessary intervention,
registering children who are at risk or born with a disability, and conducting follow-up monitoring of their condition(s), and communicating relevant information to the appropriate authorities,
enriching the health care of the disabled and taking the necessary steps to achieve this,
training health care providers and paramedics in appropriate procedures for the safe handling of injured persons on site to prevent further complications during transit, and
training families of the disabled on handling and care.
This includes all phases of education (pre-school, general, vocational, and higher education) that are suitable to the abilities of the disabled and that are commensurate with their various categories and needs, including the continuous updating of curricula and services provided in this field.
3. Training and habilitation
This includes the provision of training and habilitation services as required by the labor market, in order to be competitively employable. This also includes the provision of vocational and social habilitation centers and adequate training aids.
This includes recruiting and employing persons with disabilities to give them the opportunity to discover their personal capabilities and potential and enabling them to earn and generate an income like other members of the community. This also includes enhancing the performance of employed persons with disabilities by providing further ongoing training.
This includes programs which contribute to developing the capabilities of persons with disabilities to enable them to integrate naturally into various facets of public life without hindrance from the nature of their disability.
6. Culture and sports
This includes utilization of cultural and sporting facilities, and the adaptation of such facilities to enable persons with disabilities to participate therein, indoors and outdoors, in a manner suitable to their abilities.
This includes the role the mass media plays in enlightening and educating the community by:
defining the types and causes of disabilities, and the importance of the processes of early diagnosis and prevention,
educating the public in the role of persons with disabilities in society, by identifying their rights, needs, abilities and their contribution to the services available; as well as educating persons with disabilities regarding their duties towards themselves and their role in society,
producing special programs for persons with disabilities that will assist them in their integration into society, and
encouraging individuals and institutions to provide financial and moral support to the disabled and encouraging volunteer work in the community to serve persons with disabilities.
8. Complementary services
facilitating a method of public transport to securely and safely transport the disabled and their caretakers, at reduced cost (depending on the condition of the disability),
providing day-care centers and/or home help to assist persons with disabilities, and
providing technical aids.
The Supreme Council shall coordinate with authorities to abide by the regulations for architectural specifications required to provide access and accommodate persons with disabilities in all centers for habilitation, training, education, medical, welfare and public places, as well as all other areas, to enable persons with disabilities easy access of movement and transportation. All authorities shall abide by the said regulation.
The Supreme Council will coordinate with authorities to provide manpower to be educated and trained nationally and internationally in the field of disability, and to promote the exchange of experience with other countries.
The Government shall award loans for persons with disabilities to establish occupational or commercial employment that is suited to their abilities in their capacity as individuals or as a group.
Technical aids and devices used by persons with disabilities shall be exempt from customs duties. These will be specified in a list approved by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.
A trust fund shall be established, under the control of the Supreme Council, for depositing all endowments, donations and revenues from fines, and which will be used for providing care for persons with disabilities.
A Supreme Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities will be established. The Council shall be associated with the Prime Minister and shall be constituted as follows:
a Chairman, to be appointed by Royal Order, and members -
" A Secretary General for the Supreme Council
" The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
" The Minister of Health
" The Minister of Higher Education
" The Minister of Education
" The Minister of Finance and National Economy
" The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs
" The General President of Girls Education
" Two persons with disabilities
" Two businessmen interested in the affairs of persons with disabilities
" Two specialists in the field of disability.
The latter six members are appointed by the Prime Minister based on recommendations of the Chairman of the Supreme Council and their appointments are for renewable terms of four years.
The Chairman of the Supreme Council may appoint any member of the Council to act on his behalf in the event of his absence.
The Supreme Council will be authorized in the organization of the affairs of persons with disabilities in the following:
issue policies and procedures and decisions required to implement this code,
propose modifications of regulations pertaining to the affairs of persons with disabilities in different areas, propose basic standards to what is offered to them or to whoever takes care of them, i.e. financial benefits,
ensure implementation of this code and its regulations, including other policies and procedures relating to the affairs of persons with disabilities,
coordination between the Government and private sectors in relation to services provided to persons with disabilities.
An annual report will be submitted to the prime minister regarding the achievements of the Supreme experienced, and means of support services provided to persons with disabilities.
a) The Chairman or his Acting will call upon the Supreme Council for a twice annual mccting.
b) The Supreme Council hall convene upon the presence of a majority of its members, including the Chairman or his Acting, and shall take its decisions by the majorlry of the votes of the attendees. In the case of a tie, Chairman shall have the deciding vote.
The Supreme Council shall a General Secretariat and shall appoint a Secretary General and necessary staff, in accordance with the regulations of the civil service. The Secretary General will be responsible for the following;
a) Administer to the General Secretariat,
b) Assume responsibility for convening meetings, taking minutes, informing the concerned parties of decisions taken in the meetings,
c) Prepare executive policies for this code,
d) Prepare technical reviews on the work of the Supreme Council,
e) Format policies and procedures relating to the affairs of persons with disabilities, in coordination with the concerned parties,
f) Represent the Supreme Council to governmental departments, institutions and other related organizations,
g) Form committees consisting of members specialized and experienced in reviewing the issues related to the disabled,
h) Prcparc an annual report on the work of the Supreme Council, and
i) Perform other duties allocated to him by the Supreme Council.
The Supreme Council shall form a working group from amongst its members or otherwise. The Council shall determine and specify the Group's expertise and work methodology.
The Supreme Council shall have a budget which shall be subject to the general rules and provisions of the Kingdom's budget.
All pre-existing codes, policies, procedures, decisions and instructions relating to persons with disabilities shall be modified according to this code within three years of the date of its publication.
This code will be published in the official book of law shall be valid and the effect after 180 days from the date of publication.