The People with Disability Department at the Community Development Authority (CDA) aims to raise awareness in society on the rights of those with disabilities, especially their rights to work, by launching special initiatives, programs and services. The department also encourages them to participate in specialised events, activities and conferences. We will review some examples of these events:
The second dialogue session on the importance of financial support for people with disabilities
Under the slogan "Together without Borders", CDA participated in a seminar organised by Emirates NBD on 25th May 2016. The seminar discussed the need, expectations and optimal ways to integrate persons with disabilities especially in the banking sector. Representatives from Zayed University and the Wings of Angels company participated in the event.
Dialogue session about the importance of Education for people with disabilities
CDA announced its long-term strategy to support people with disabilities during a seminar held by Emirates NBD. The dialogue session hosted representatives of the Manzil Centre for empowering people with disabilities, Al Noor Centre for training and rehabilitating children with special needs, and a number of agencies interested in issues of integration and empowerment of people with disabilities. The session discussed the challenges posed by the high cost of the education of people with disabilities and the possible solutions.
CDA raises awareness among governmental and private organisations on the ‘employment of people with disabilities’
CDA, the government agency responsible for developing community development frameworks in the emirate of Dubai, and in collaboration with Desert Group, held a number of awareness sessions on the employment of people with disabilities. A number of parties participated, including: Eagle Management Services, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.
The dialogue sessions included a detailed explanation on how to hold job interviews with people with disabilities, the nature of the questions that should be asked and the useful tools to make the interview a successful one. The sessions proposed detailed information on how to develop a disability-friendly working environment that meet their needs and helps them perform the assigned tasks easily and in the optimal way.
These events were held in line with the plan of Advocacy Committee for People with disabilities that aims to gain support and correct misconceptions associated with employment of people with disability.
Supervision of the First Integrating Employment Fair
CDA and the Higher College of Technology supervised the first Integrating Employment Fair organised by female students from the Higher College of Technology in Dubai, with the support of DP world.
The fair aimed to contribute to the “My Community... A city for everyone” initiative, supporting the efforts aimed to promote Dubai as a disabled-friendly city by 2020, and enabling students of the Higher College of Technology to achieve their graduation project – Integrating Employment.
Discussion session on the leading projects of people with disabilities and financial returns to investors
CDA, in collaboration with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Desert Group, the two founding members of Employment Advocacy Committee for People with Disabilities, participated in a discussion session to shed light on the challenges and requirements of the integrating employment for people with disabilities. This is part of a number of events and efforts aiming to enable this category in work environments, in line with the objectives of Dubai strategy for people with disabilities and the “My Community… A city for everyone” initiative aimed at transforming Dubai to a fully disabled-friendly city by 2020.
The session, held in the Desert Group orchard at Al-Khawaneej in Dubai, was attended by representatives of Al Manzil for Special Needs, Chocolate Factory of the Ministry of Social Development, a group of member companies of Employment Advocacy Committee for People with Disabilities, and a number of companies interested in the integration and empowerment of people with disabilities. The session reviewed a number of challenges that disrupt the fulfilment of integrating employment for people with disabilities and stand in the way of benefiting from their talents in the workplace.
The session also saw the discussion of the concept of integrating leading projects which highlight the benefits and obstacles that make up the work environment at Desert Group, one of the most successful models, by adopting the leading Enable Program for people with disabilities; CDA seeks to benefit from this program to launch other leading operational programs for people with disabilities. The output will ensure enhancing their economic empowerment and offering them wider opportunities and choices in order to achieve financial independence.
Discussion Session on Employment of People with Disabilities at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce
In cooperation with the Business Ethics Centre of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CDA held a discussion session on the employment and empowerment of persons with disabilities in the workplace, with a broad participation of business community representatives. The session aimed to highlight the role of government agencies in recruiting and empowering persons with disabilities, and define the role and duties of the employers to empower people with disabilities in the workplace. The session presented Dubai Government plan to transform Dubai into a disabled-friendly city by 2020.
CDA Stand at AcessAbilities Expo attracts a great deal of visitors
The CDA stand at the AcessAbilities Expo attracted a great deal of visitors and participants in Expo community development disabilities, in Dubai, who expressed their satisfaction with the presence of a governmental agency which oversees the application and implementation of people with disability laws. H E Khalid Al Kamda, Director General of the Community Development Authority, emphasised the importance of the direct communication with those concerned with disability issues, and to know their aspirations and take advantage of their expertise in the field of integration and empowerment of people with disabilities, as well as uniting the community, institutional and individual efforts in this area.
During the exhibition, CDA presented mobile rehabilitation Sanad units designed for early detection and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities in their residential areas. The centre showcased Sanad smart application which raises awareness about the services offered and enables customers to book appointments according to the schedule of its movements in areas of the emirate. CDA offered also Sanad application for communication which is designed to promote the integration and empowerment of people with hearing disability and speech difficulties, as well as Sanad Card for people with disabilities in Dubai.
Supporting the role of people with disabilities in standing up for their cause
CDA organised a brainstorming workshop to identify the difficulties faced by people with disabilities, within the framework of advocating their issues and contributing to decision making on the development of services offered to them, and identifying the necessary skills and training courses to support their families, their representative bodies and associations in this area.
The workshop aimed at involving representatives of people with disabilities in the area of decision making, proposing policies and legislative regulations related to their rights and the services offered to them, and activating the supporting laws. This is a continuation of CDA’s plan designed to educate individuals, families and the institutions of civil society about the importance of active involvement in the advocacy of this category.
The participants agreed on the need to develop a business strategy that enables the integration and empowerment of persons with disabilities with a view to involving them in decision making and policy formulation, while activating their role in bringing about awareness and qualitative change in systems and services intended for them.
CDA trains its employees on dealing with people with disabilities
CDA organised a training session for a group of employees from various departments concerned with communicating, delivering services and promoting the activities and programs of integration and empowerment of people with disabilities in Dubai.
The session is part of a number of internal and external training programs aimed at building capacity and enriching the knowledge of the community members and institutions on the techniques of dealing with people with disabilities and protecting their rights in line with the implementation of "My Community… A city for everyone” initiative which aims to make Dubai a fully disabled-friendly city by 2020.
The training session included a review of the changes in the methodologies of dealing with persons with disabilities while highlighting the model of protecting the rights and social integration adopted by the UAE; this model is one of the latest applied models globally. The session also included theoretical information regarding different categories and types of disabilities, and the mechanisms of dealing with them, while respecting the privacy of individuals and promoting social integration and empowerment in society. The session concluded with a discussion of the practical work experiences supervised by trained specialists in CDA.
CDA participates in “We are with you Forum”
Community Development Authority participated in “We are with you Forum” organised by the Al Maktoum Charity Authority for the second year in row. The forum included an exhibition of products made by persons with disabilities. CDA presented detailed information on the initiative of communication among generations, elderly services, as well as programs and services for people with disabilities such as Sanad Card and Sanad Centre for communication. CDA held also discussion sessions on the topics of disabilities and developmental delays and other related issues.
Discussion session in Dubai Chamber
A dialogue session entitled “The Empowerment of People with Disabilities in Work Environment” was held in line with “My Community... A City for Everyone” initiative and with CDA’s strategy to include and empower people with disabilities in all aspects of life especially in work. The session was held in partnership with Desert Group and witnessed valuable participation from a number of special needs centres and a number of CSR employees in private companies.
The session was commenced by the announcement of His Excellency Khalid Al Kamda, Director General of the Community Development Authority, the formation of the Employment Advocacy Committee for People with Disabilities in a reference to the Law number (2) of 2014 for the protection of people with disability in the emirate of Dubai, as well as “My Community... A City for Everyone” initiative which aims to make Dubai a disability friendly city by the year 2020.
CDA Participates in Abilities Me
CDA participated in Abilities Me Exhibition and Conference which is the only MENA event that provides financial, social, occupational and educational support for people with disability in the region.
The 14th Gulf Forum of Gulf Disability Society
In line with “My Community... A City for Everyone” initiative, which aims to transform Dubai into a disability friendly city, the Community Development Authority participated in the 14th Gulf Forum of Gulf Disability Society through a paper entitled “The employment of people with disability… The reality and vision”.
The paper shed light on the challenges facing the employment of people with disabilities in the Emirate of Dubai through the data available in ElKayt Program. It also highlighted the efforts of the Authority in bridging the gap between reality and ambition, and the transition from employment to empowerment through the adoption of projects that offer job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Through its paper, CDA showed interest in coordinating with all institutions and experts concerned with the empowerment of people with disabilities. CDA also seeks to develop knowledge transfer plans that aim to empower people with disabilities financially and socially, to facilitate their integration into the society, and to help them have equal opportunities in life.
Dialogue Session in IBM
A dialogue session was held on private companies’ mechanism in adopting employment projects and the challenges that people with disabilities face in the workplace and how to overcome them. The sessions also discussed the role of government entities and rehabilitation centres to make work environment friendly. It witnessed an active participation from CDA, Desert Group, IBM and a number of recruitment officials in IBM.
The session included an overview of Law number (2) of the year 2014 for the protection of people with disabilities and the goals of the Advocacy Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities, in addition to a presentation on Desert Group success story in employing people with intellectual disability.
In line with CDA strategy to present the successful models for social integration and empowerment of the employee with disability, some special experiences were displayed including Rashid Al Marzouqi, an employee in CDA with motor disability and Dr Ahmed Imran, an employee in the Ministry of Social Affairs with a visual disability. The two employees talked about their experiences in life and work and highlighted some of the challenges they face them and how to overcome them. They also answered questions by employees at IMB which held the discussion on the empowerment of people with disabilities.
Awareness Presentation at DP World
CDA participated in the awareness session hosted by DP World to discuss Law number (2) for the year 2014 on the protection of people with disabilities, “My Community… A city for everyone” initiative, and CDA strategy to include and empower people with disabilities in all aspects of life, as well as the basic concepts of disability.