RIYADH, 13 October 2005 — Prince Sultan ibn Salman, chairman of the Disabled Children’s Association (DCA), on Tuesday inaugurated a program endorsed by the association called, “Jarrib Al-Kursi” (Try the Chair).
The program aims at creating public awareness of the difficulties that disabled children experience when using a wheelchair. To increase public understanding of the problems, any member of the public can go to the new Granada Mall in Riyadh and use a wheelchair.
Social Affairs Minister Dr. Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas, Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie and Riyadh Mayor Abdul Aziz Al-Muqrin attended the event.
The program began with a speech by Othman Al-Saleh, the association’s media manager and member of the board. He said that the DCA had been working with disabled children for the past 20 years. “This program is just one of the initiatives from the association which seeks to provide disabled children with better lives.”
He said that the program’s message is to support disabled children so that they may overcome the challenges they face every day.
Speaking to the press while in a wheelchair, Prince Sultan ibn Salman said: “This program has been launched by the association in many areas of the Kingdom. The aim is to get public attention for disabled children and the daily difficulties they face moving into and out of buildings and around public areas.”
The prince said that the Kingdom had always supported programs for the disabled and he mentioned the establishment of the Higher Commission for the Disabled which is headed by the king. A law was passed two years ago which directs that all government buildings must provide the appropriate environment for disabled people to work in.
“Our society should look at disabled people as citizens first and foremost. They are friends and human beings and are no different from anyone else except that they have a disability,” Prince Sultan said. “Public awareness about the disabled should begin in our homes,” he added.
He said that a disabled person is not asking for a favor but is instead asking the public to understand his needs and his situation.
The prince said that the association currently has six centers and that two more would be opened this year. He called upon all citizens to support the association’s programs and to become members for a small annual subscription. He also called on other philanthropic societies to give donations to the association.
