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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) faces several issues, including
the challenge of providing opportunities for its minority population. While
there is no specific data on unemployment rates for people with disabilities (PWD),
the high unemployment rates among the UAE citizens suggest that PWD may face
similar problems. In the UAE, the rate of congenital disability is high,
indicating that PWD may require help and support from the government.
The government has already put in place laws and regulations to provide PWD with
equal opportunities for education and work. For instance, the government has
spent over Dh19.2 billion on financial support for vulnerable populations,
including PWD. However, there is still a need to improve PWD's quality of life
by addressing two main issues - access to education and employment
opportunities.
One of the challenges PWD face in the UAE is that they may have limited
opportunities to access higher education or build a professional career. Social
constructs and the perception of the majority may cause PWD to feel separated
and excluded from the rest of society. The same may happen in schools where
children with disabilities struggle to attend regular schools with others. The
UAE government should provide PWD with the possibility of acquiring academic and
professional skills alongside social skills to ensure they feel more confident
and accepted in society.
The UK has developed several programs to help PWD, including the Remploy
program, which is a central organization where PWD can search for jobs. The Work
Choices program is another initiative by the UK government that provides support
for people with disabilities to find suitable jobs. The UAE can benchmark the UK
programs to create similar schemes to support PWD.
The UAE government should create opportunities for PWD, including job
opportunities, cooperate with popular brands and retailers to guarantee jobs for
them. Additionally, psychological programs should be introduced to help PWD
acquire confidence and social and communication skills. The government should
also consider setting up a self-employment system to give PWD independence and
to encourage entrepreneurship. The UAE government has already made significant
strides in improving PWD's quality of life. However, there is still more to be
done, and the government should continue to work towards supporting PWD to
ensure they have access to equal opportunities. |
