ARTICLE 1
-The following words and expressions used in this Code have the following meanings unless stated otherwise:
Persons with Disabilities: Those who are totally or partially disabled with respect to their physical, sensory, mental, communicative, academic, or psychological capabilities, to the extent that it compromises the abilities of these persons to meet their normal needs as compared to their non-disabled counterparts.
Disability: The definition of disability shall refer to having one or more of the following disabilities: visual disability, hearing disability, cognitive disability, motor disability, learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, behavioral problems, autism spectrum disorders, multiple dis- abilities, and other disabilities which require special care.
Prevention: The set of medical, psychological, social, educational, informational, and regulatory procedures, which aim at preventing or limiting the effect of disabilities and at preempting and easing the consequences thereof.
Welfare: To provide comprehensive care services to persons with dis- abilities needing this care, dependent upon the degree of their disability, as well as their medical and social status.
Habilitation: A coordinated process to utilize medical, social, psycho- logical, 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 self-reliance and be as productive members of society as possible.
The Supreme Council:
The Supreme Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities.
ARTICLE 2
-The Government shall guarantee prevention, welfare, and habilitation services to persons with disabilities, 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 dis- abilities in the following areas:
Health (including):
- Provision of medical, preventive and habilitation services, including preventive genetic counseling, various laboratory testing and analyses for the early detection of disease and necessary intervention.
- Registering children who are at risk or born with a disability, monitoring the follow-up of their condition(s), and communicating the relevant information to the appropriate authorities.
- Working on enhancing healthcare for the disabled and ensuring that the necessary steps are taken to achieve that.
- Training healthcare providers and paramedics in the appropriate procedures for the safe handling of injured persons -on site- to prevent further complications during transit.
- Training families of the disabled to handle, manage, and care for them.
Education
Including all phases of education (pre-school, mainstream schools, vocational, and higher education) that are suitable to the abilities of the disabled and are proportionate to their various categories and needs, including continuous updates of curricula and services provided in this field.
Training and Habilitation
Including the provision of training and habilitation services as required by the labor market to be competitively employed. This also includes the provision of vocational and social habilitation centers and adequate training aids/aides.
Work
Including recruiting and employing persons with disabilities to provide them with the opportunity to discover their personal capabilities and potential, as well as enabling them to earn and generate an income com- parable to other members of the community. This also includes enhancing the performance of employed persons with disabilities by providing further ongoing training.
Social
Including programs which contribute to developing the capabilities of persons with disabilities enabling them to integrate easily into various facets of public life without hindrance from the nature of their disability.
Culture and Sports
Including the utilization of cultural and sporting facilities and the adaptation of such facilities enabling persons with disabilities to participate therein -indoors and outdoors- in a manner suitable to their abilities.
Information
Including the role mass media plays –whether visual, heard, or read- 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 and encouraging volunteer work in the community to serve persons with disabilities.
Complementary Services (including):
- Facilitating a method of public transport to securely and safely transport persons with disabilities and their caretakers at reduced cost (depending on the condition of the disability).
- Providing daycare centers and/or home aides to assist persons with disabilities; and
- Providing technical aids.
ARTICLE 3
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 enabling persons with disabilities easy access for movement and transportation. All authorities shall abide by the said regulation.
ARTICLE 4
The Supreme Council shall coordinate with authorities to provide man- power for education and training -nationally and internationally- in the field of disability and to promote the exchange of experience with other countries.
ARTICLE 5
The Government shall award loans for persons with disabilities to establish occupational or commercial employment suitable to their abilities and capacities as individuals or as a group.
ARTICLE 6
Technical aids and devices used by persons with disabilities shall be exempt from customs. These will be specified in a list approved by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.
ARTICLE 7
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.
ARTICLE 8
-A Supreme Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities shall be established and associated with the Prime Minister and shall be constituted as follows:
Chairman, to be appointed by Royal Decree, and will include the following members:
The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
- The Minister of Health
- The Minister of Education
- The Minister of Finance and National Economy
- The General President of Girls Education
- The Minister of Higher Education
- The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs
- A Secretary General for the Supreme Council
- 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 will be appointed for a four-year term by the Prime Minister based on recommendations of the Chairman of the Supreme Council and are eligible for renewal after the completion of their appointments.
The Chairman of the Supreme Council may appoint any member of the Council to act on his behalf in the event of his absence.
ARTICLE 9
-The Supreme Council shall be authorized with the strategy and organization of the affairs of persons with disabilities as follows:
- Issue’s policies and procedures, regulations, 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 is responsible for caring for them, i.e., financially or otherwise, and recommend and/or modify imposing fines on negligent individuals or entities.
- 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.
- Encourage scientific research to examine the extent and rates of disabilities; types and causes; examine the means of prevention and methods of treatment in order to cure or alleviate its side effects; specify occupations that would be suitable to train and habilitate persons with disabilities while taking into consideration the type and degree of their disability as well as the needs of the labor market.
- Encourage individuals and associations to create special programs and charitable associations and institutions to habilitate, support, and enable persons with disabilities.
- Review Annual Reports issued by the concerned governmental authorities relating to what has been achieved in the prevention, habilitation, and welfare of persons with disabilities and act upon such information as deemed necessary.
- Furnish a list of gifts, donations, wills, and endowments received.
- Prepare a method of operation for the trust fund of persons with disabilities.
- Issue an internal procedure for administration within the Supreme Council; and
- Provide comments and points of views of the international Memorandum of Agreement and inclusion of the Government in the in trinational and regional organizations and commissions concerning persons with disabilities.
ARTICLE 10
The Supreme Council shall submit an Annual Report to the Prime Minister regarding their achievements, status of the disabled and services provided, difficulties and obstacles experienced, and means of support services provided to persons with disabilities.
ARTICLE 11
The Chairman or his appointed substitute will call upon the Supreme Council for at least two biannual meetings.
The Supreme Council shall convene upon the presence of a majority of its members including the Chairman or his appointed substitute and shall decide based on the voted majority. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the deciding vote.
ARTICLE 12
The Supreme Council shall form a General Secretariat and shall appoint a Secretary General and staff in accordance with the regulations of the civil service. The Secretary General will be responsible for the following:
- Administration of the General Secretariat.
- Assume responsibility for convening meetings, taking minutes, and in forming the concerned parties of decisions taken in the meetings.
- Prepare executive policies for this Code.
- Prepare technical reviews for processing by Supreme Council.
- Format policies, procedures, and regulations relating to the affairs of persons with disabilities in coordination with the concerned parties.
- Prepare the Supreme Council budget.
- Represent the Supreme Council to governmental departments, institutions, and other related organizations.
- Form committees consisting of members specialized and experienced in reviewing issues related to persons with disabilities.
- Prepare an Annual Report of the performance of the Supreme Council; and
- Perform other duties allocated by the Supreme Council.
ARTICLE 13:
The Supreme Council shall form a working group from amongst its members or others as deemed fit and shall determine and specify the group›s expertise and work methodology.
ARTICLE 14
The Supreme Council shall have a budget that will be subject to the general rules and provisions of the Kingdom›s budget.
ARTICLE 15
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.
ARTICLE 16
This Code will be published in all official newspapers and shall be valid and in effect 180 days from the date of publica
