RIYADH, 22 May 2004 — The Prince Salman Center for Disability Research (PSCDR) here has completed several research projects in the short time since its establishment as it makes headway in its founding mission, Waleed Al-Deaigy, PSCDR assistant executive director for media affairs, told Arab News.
Organized with the support of Riyadh Governor Prince Salman with Prince Sultan ibn Salman as board chairman, the PSCDR aims to increase funding for disability research, create more public awareness, and improve the quality of life among the disabled throughout the Kingdom.
The projects completed so far include the early diagnosis of disabilities, treatment of myosclerosis using botulin toxin, disability awareness in the Saudi press, an exploratory study on disabilities in Madinah, and a national code for the rights of the disabled.
Al-Deaigy said, “The center aims at conducting research to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of disabilities.”
“They have identified areas where services for people with disabilities are needed most including the types of facilities and staff required,” he said.
The center offers grants for research on different aspects of disability.
At present, the PSCDR is working on projects for speech and language development in children, newborn screening for endocrine and metabolic diseases, and implementation of a computerized Arabic-Braille environment.
“As a charity organization, PSCDR is, in essence, a partnership for hope between the public and private sectors,” Al-Deaigy said. “The next decade holds the promise of being the most exciting and productive in the history of research on disabilities. The technology already exists to prevent most of them,” he said.
