Scheme will assess how to make Dubai disabled friendly

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Scheme will assess how to make Dubai disabled friendly A landmark trial project will see part of Dubai transformed to become accessible for people with disabilities as part of plans to increase mobility for all in the city. The Dubai Government has set up a task force to assess the accessibility of the city. Majid Al Osaimi, a member of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, who is involved in the project, said that in many cases pavements are too high for those in wheelchairs and that too few have ramps. He also said that football stadiums, beaches and some malls are among the public places that are difficult for those with limited mobility to reach. The drive is part of a target, decreed by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, last year, to make the emirate of Dubai disability-friendly by 2020. Al Osaimi, who uses a wheelchair, said: “Sidewalks around the city are one of the first problems facing people with a physical disability – they are too high and they do not have ramps, apart from those near traffic lights.” Talking about the pilot scheme, he said: “We will divide the city into squares and will initially start with one area that we will transform to be fully accessible for disabled people, whether they are residents in the area or coming as customers. We will also look into the standards that should be applied in the city, including buildings and roads.” He said: “A consultancy firm has been hired and they are in the final stages of giving us their findings.Some time in March or April we might be able to implement these new standards in one area in Dubai as a pilot, then evaluate it so we can roll it out [across the emirate]” Al Osaimi said that a lack of accessibility means that many disabled people miss out on enjoying activities and hobbies. He said: “I love football but getting into a football stadium in the UAE as a disabled person is not an experience I want to have – you end up along with ambulances and police cars and you cannot see much of the match. “It has always been a dream for me to go to the beach but with my wheelchair it has been impossible. “I know that Dubai Municipality is now working on introducing new paths in the beaches, to make them accessible, and we are close to making my dream become a reality.” Plans for the scheme did not elaborate on what specifically will be looked at during the initial pilot project. wafa.issa@7days.ae   Read the original story at: Scheme will assess how to make Dubai disabled friendly