On the occasion of the 45th Arab Deaf Week .. MLSD Minister: Translating the capabilities and energies of people with hearing disabilities to participate in the renaissance of Bahrain

18-04-2020

The Kingdom of Bahrain joins the Arab community in the annual celebration of Arab Deaf Week, now in its 45th session, under the slogan “The Right of the Deaf to an Easy Marriage Supported by Social Institutions.” The last week of April each year has been designated to raise awareness of persons with hearing disabilities in society, pursuant to the recommendations of the Second Conference of the Arab Federation of Deaf Organizations, held in Damascus in April 1974, with the aim of raising awareness of the rights and capabilities of the deaf, ways to prevent this disability, and the means of caring for them, rehabilitating them and communicating with them, in addition to highlighting their fundamental rights—educational, psychological, social, economic and cultural—and strengthening efforts to empower persons with hearing disabilities and the hearing‑impaired, together with the concerned civil society organisations, to play an effective and positive role in comprehensive and sustainable social and economic development. On this occasion, His Excellency Jameel bin Mohammad Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, affirmed that persons with hearing disabilities in the Kingdom of Bahrain enjoy great attention from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the country's great king, may God protect and preserve him, and from the esteemed government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, together with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, may God protect them. He noted the solidarity and cooperation of all those concerned with providing services—rehabilitation, care and social—by opening new horizons for them and supporting them to carry out projects compatible with their capabilities, and by enabling participation in existing projects so that they can continue their journey in life and contribute to building their country, especially as they possess excellent capabilities and energies that can be utilised in various fields and sectors. The Kingdom of Bahrain has paid great attention to persons with disabilities, reflected in its tireless efforts and constant attention to this group, with the aim of promoting education and awareness of disability issues, which are a shared responsibility borne by all ministries and agencies in the Kingdom, as well as by civil society organisations and institutions. Humaidan pointed out that the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, in cooperation with its partners in the public, private and civil sectors, has been able to integrate persons with hearing disabilities into mainstream education and to engage positively in society, considering that the integration process is an issue with social dimensions. In this regard, he pointed to cooperation with the Ministry of Education to fully and comprehensively integrate this group into an educational environment equal to their peers, by enrolling them in classes at various levels of study, reinforced by the efforts of parents and acceptance from others—individuals and groups—until this plan became a tangible reality, placing Bahrain among the countries with pioneering and successful experiences in integrating persons with disabilities into society. In implementation of what was stated in Article (30) of the General Principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which Bahrain ratified in 2011, stipulating the right of persons with disabilities to participate in cultural and educational life, and in recreational and sports activities, the Ministry was able to discern the capabilities and creativity of this group, who were able to challenge the world of silence to enter the world of work and public life, and to prove that their affliction with this disability does not prevent them from highlighting these energies and contributing positively to the development of society. This is what we seek to achieve by providing quality services to persons with hearing disabilities, through the Shaikhan Al Farsi Centre for Comprehensive Speech, which is a centre specialised in the rehabilitation and education of persons with hearing disabilities, and enabling them to complete the basic educational competencies in the early stages and develop them in a way that facilitates their later integration into the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development has focused on qualification, training and employment for persons with hearing disabilities in job specialities that suit the nature of their disabilities. The Ministry's “You Are Not Alone” Centre collaborates with employers to facilitate their access to various job opportunities and provides follow-up support after employment. In addition, a group of deaf persons have joined productive family projects. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development also provides a disability allowance to 1,940 persons with hearing disabilities. In 2019, it provided hearing aids to 60 beneficiaries. It also offers free driving training and a range of other services, delivered in collaboration with the private sector, including discounts for holders of disability cards issued by the Ministry to all persons with disabilities.