المملكة: 13.4 % is the percentage of workers with disabilities .. approaching the target 2030

The annual report for the 2030 Saudi Vision 2024 revealed that tangible progress in integrating persons with disabilities who are able to work in the labor market, where the percentage of workers ’indicator of them recorded a remarkable annual growth exceeding the target set for that year.
The report showed that the actual percentage of workers with disabilities amounted to 13.4%, bypassing the annual goal that was specified at 12.8%, which represents a promising approach to achieving the ambitious vision of the year 2030, which is set by 15%.
This achievement comes as a fruit of the Kingdom’s implementation of a package of qualitative initiatives that aimed at developing the skills of persons with disabilities, and enabling their effective integration with their peers in work environments that guarantee easy access, in addition to enhancing their employment opportunities and facilitating their participation in professional life, and this trend has strengthened the renewal of the organizational regulations of social and professional programs for persons with disabilities in 2024.

Community integration

In this context, Saeed Al -Bahas, the media spokesman and director of the Media and Communication Department of the Deaf Association and the weak hearing and their families, explained that the Saudi Vision 2030 report in its second stage showed a clear distinction in the application of long -term strategic planning methodologies.
And that maturity was evident in the planned planning mechanisms and implementation tools used, in addition to the remarkable development in specialized technical capabilities and the cumulative experience gained by the government system responsible for implementing ambitious vision programs and initiatives.
Al -Bahas suggested that the Deaf Association and the weak hearing and their families are one of the actors in the non -profit sector that works hard to enhance the concept of partnership and societal integration with various governmental and private sectors.
He explained that the association focuses on providing qualitative and distinguished initiatives targeting people with disabilities from the deaf and hearing category, and the operational plan of the association includes major axes that include enhancing the definition of the identity and culture of the deaf, working to integrate them completely into society, and the effective contribution to their training and enabling them to qualify them to enter the labor market.
He stressed the importance of highlighting and spreading sign language in society, by organizing various courses aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of this vital language in various societal circles.

Innovative initiatives and programs

Al -Bahas revealed that the association built an ambitious business map that includes many innovative initiatives and programs, including programs aimed at developing digital culture and enriching technical content to enable people with hearing disabilities in vital areas such as digital transformation, data governance, information systems, and artificial intelligence.
This is implemented, as he explained, in the active partnership with the relevant authorities, through the establishment of training courses and specialized workshops that focus on developing technical and digital skills for this category.
Al -Bahas added that among the proposed programs that the association seeks to implement is to activate the part of the partnership and integrate with academic institutions such as universities, institutes and colleges.
These partnerships aim to work to create and open a number of appropriate academic specializations, such as diploma and bachelor’s programs, with the aim of raising the educational level of the deaf and weak hearing.
The plans also include establishing specialized employment forums, in cooperation with private sector companies and institutions, to facilitate the employment of people with hearing disabilities, in addition to an effective investment for international days related to advancing economic development and creating decent and appropriate job opportunities for this important segment of society.
Al -Bahas also suggested that the association is working on other vital programs, such as the early intervention program and awareness of the importance of detecting hearing problems in children, and providing the necessary guidance and support to their families, in cooperation with specialized medical centers.

Improving the quality of life

The association also organizes field visits to deaf people to assess their needs, and works to develop an integrated system for the services of beneficiaries in the field of awareness and guidance, targeting people with hearing disabilities and their families, in partnership with the authorities concerned with family, social, psychological and health guidance programs.
Another important projects are the creation of a specialized research unit concerned with studying and designing educational needs appropriate for deaf and hearing and hearing.
Al -Bahas, at the end of his speech, said that the package of programs and initiatives launched by the association was designed and built according to a scientific methodology that relies on an accurate analysis of the development fields, and is based on the actual needs of the target group.
He emphasized the keenness to adopt international best practices in the field of operational planning and institutional management.
He also stressed the association’s focus on providing programs that are in line with the targets of the ambitious national vision 2030, especially in the fields of sports, the development of human capabilities, and the improvement of the quality of life, health, and the environment.
All of this is done with the enhancement of the basic values ​​on which the association is based, represented in building confidence, empowerment, belonging, responsibility, and integration, with the aim of providing distinguished rehabilitation and development services for the deafness and weak hearing and enhancing their full integration into the fabric of society.