‘Respect parking for the disabled’

A campaign, entitled “Please Park it Right,” to create awareness on respecting parking spots designated for people with disabilities in the city was launched here recently.
The campaign includes Al-Baik, Jeddah Traffic Police, the Universal Accessibility Program (a Prince Salman Center for Disability Research Program) and the Tayseer CSR Program, part of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).
The campaigners want to send out a message that if certain able-bodied people want to take the parking spots of people with disabilities, they should also “take their disabilities.”
“Parking spots for the disabled are limited and at times just going to a hospital is a burden because even if there is a disabled parking spot it is always occupied by someone who’s not disabled,” said Safar Haqabani of the social responsibility board of the JCCI and a member of the Saudi national basketball team for the disabled.
“The issue isn’t about feeling sorry for someone with a disability, it’s about respecting their rights and allowing them the opportunity to move about freely without feeling like a burden or creating obstacles to their movement,” he added.
The weeklong campaign will feature a number of programs that include signing a pledge to respect parking regulations, a mini remote control car-driving test to see if people can park properly and an opportunity to play one-on-one with members of the Saudi national basketball team for the disabled by shooting hoops from a wheelchair.
The event kicked off at Red Sea Mall on July 4. Prior to the launch, a training session for security teams and parking attendants was held at the mall by the Jeddah traffic police and the campaign organizers.
Those who attended the launch included officials from the Jeddah traffic police, the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, Red Sea Mall, JCCI, the Disabled Children’s Association and members of the media.
Upon signing the pledge, visitors will receive pins with the campaign messages and receive bumper stickers calling on everyone to “Park it Right.”