RIYADH, 4 February 2003 — Nader’s dream is to attend Friday prayers at the mosque. Wheelchair-bound, he is unable to climb the stairs to join the faithful.
Mody, who is also handicapped, wishes she were able to rely on herself at least for a day instead of exhausting her mother, who now needs to follow her wherever she goes.
More than 700,000 Saudis, including children, suffer disabilities, according to a recent study by the Ministry of Health.
The survey said that the need to integrate the disabled into the mainstream of society has prompted a move on the part of the government to enact new legislations and set up specialized facilities for their rehabilitation.
More than 60 percent of the disabled suffer from psychological problems due to harsh treatment meted out to them by their family members, according to the study, which was compiled on the basis of the findings of the national survey.
The study added that the average income for a disabled person in the Kingdom is only SR8,371, which does not even cover the cost of medicine.
This is despite the fact that Saudi Arabia presently offers generous subsidies to the handicapped and their families.
The state also contributes SR50,000 to any project undertaken by a disabled male or female after they graduate. The existing regulations also say that the disabled should pay half price for all public transport.
Referring to the prevalence of disabilities in the Kingdom, the study said that nearly 56 percent of the total 700,000 disabled people are male. In this group, nearly 18 percent are suffering from disabilities because of genetic factors, which is much higher than anywhere else in the world. The rest were left handicapped by accidents or physical deformations or other causes.
Another estimate, however, says that there are about one million Saudis suffering from various kinds of disabilities at the moment. This is well near the global average of 10 percent of the total world population.
To help the disabled persons in the Kingdom, there have been several private initiatives, including the Disabled Children Association (DCA) launched by philanthropists.
The DCA, under the supervision of Prince Sultan ibn Salman, has already opened four rehabilitation facilities in Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah and Al-Jouf, where a large number of children have been admitted for treatment and therapy.
These centers have world-class facilities, including occupational therapy. The DCA has also instituted two prestigious prizes to be given to individuals or institutions with outstanding contributions in the field of disability research, service and rehabilitation.
Bassam Kamil, whose foot is disfigured, expresses the urgent need for more services for the handicapped.
“I cannot go to the bank, malls or public markets because they do not have basic services handicapped people need,” he says. “We cannot move from one place to another without relying on someone else.”
Nader Mohammed agrees.
“What I cannot understand is why we do not see these services at mosques. How can I pray?” he asks. “As a handicapped man, I cannot participate in simple activities like going to the park
“Without more services for the handicapped, I have to be accompanied by someone else at all times in case I need help. Most handicapped people suffer from depression because of this.”
Mody’s mother told Arab News that she regularly needs to take her daughter to the hospital for treatment for hydrocephalus (a disability due to water gathering in her brain).
The National Guard hospital was unable to help, so Mody was transferred to Abdul Atif Jameel Hospital.
Stressing her daughter’s need for greater independence, the mother is asking officials to provide special transport for the handicapped, such as cars in which all the driving is done with the hands only.
Ghazi Al-Otaibi, the father of a handicapped daughter, recently told Al-Madinah newspaper that he is angry at officials who will not provide simple services for the handicapped, such as ramps for wheelchairs or special parking places.
In addition, Al-Madinah reported that studies also show that there is not enough space for handicapped people to maneuver in lavatories and no ramps to facilitate their access to malls or government offices.
It is not only that handicapped people are disappointed when they do not see these services provided for them.
It is as if, by failing to provide these services, Saudi society is saying: Stay away from us.
In effect, the handicapped remain isolated.
