Integrating the data of disabled registered with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development with the ID card

09-06-2020

Assistant Undersecretary for Social Care and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Shaikha Aisha bint Ali Al Khalifa, announced that, in line with the joint cooperation between the Ministry and the Information and eGovernment Authority in the service file for persons with disabilities, the data of the disability cards registered with the Ministry has recently been merged with the updated version of the identity card, by printing the type of disability on the identity card of the disabled person. This will contribute to facilitating the affairs of this segment of citizens and enabling them to benefit from all the advantages, services and facilities provided by governmental and private entities and institutions. The Assistant Undersecretary for Social Care and Rehabilitation explained that providing the electronic ID chip with data on persons with disabilities and identifying their type of disability would eliminate the need for the Ministry‑issued disability cards. Accordingly, the Ministry has stopped issuing disability cards and will instead print the type of disability on the ID card. Shaikha Aisha bint Ali Al Khalifa affirmed that this step comes within the framework of keeping pace with modern applications in various national initiatives and projects, and facilitating access for this category. She explained that all persons with disabilities registered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, numbering more than 12,000 citizens, can renew their ID cards with the updated version, which will include disability data, eliminating the need to issue a disability card for them. Shaikha Aisha bint Ali Al Khalifa said that this step aims to provide the best services and programmes from the Ministry to the beneficiaries according to the highest levels of quality, efficiency, electronic and health security, in addition to ensuring that they benefit from all the advantages, services and facilities provided by governmental and private agencies and institutions with ease and convenience, represented by the discounts offered by a number of institutions and commercial stores by a percentage ranging from 5% to 50%, in addition to obtaining a sticker for parking spaces for people with disabilities from the General Traffic Department, as well as granting them a special lane in the King Fahd Causeway Authority, and a 50% discount on the bridge crossing fees.