Dubai bank's caign aims to break down disabilities stigmas

Date

10/8/2015 5:46:31 AM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Mahatma Gandhi's quote "you must be the change you wish to see in the world" promotes the power of the mind.

On Tuesday Emirates NBD promised to change people's perceptions of disabilities with its 'Together Limitless' campaign a campaign which aims to break down stigmas and include everyone in society.

Her chance at independence Thirty-year-old Nilofer Saleem works as an Emirates NBD application processor.

One of two siblings with learning disabilities Nilofer says the best thing about work is "earning money and helping others". And for her mother Hanifa getting the chance to see her daughter in full-time work is a dream come true.

"I have two children with disabilities. As much as I dreamed they would be included in mainstream society like everyone else I never thought it was possible."

After graduating from Manzil five years ago Nilofer took on a full-time position with the bank.

"Dr Husaini from Manzil approached the bank's HR department after Nilofer graduated. Within months she got the job. It has been great for her" Hanifa says.

For Nilofer being able to work gives her the indepence she wants and more importantly allows her to help her mum pay the bills.

"I love to help mum out" she tells Khaleej Times.

"Together Limitless is our long-term commitment to recognising and improving the life of the disabled community in the UAE" Husam Al Sayed General Manager Group Human Resources at Emirates NBD said.

With only eight disabled employees currently working across the bank Al Sayed told Khaleej Times it aims to boost this number by 2020.

"For such a big company this is a negligible number of disabled employees but we are putting a lot of focus on increasing this number."

Part of the 'My Community' inititiave launched by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai 'Together Limitless' will focus on four key areas of inclusion.

It will partner with the Community Development Authority (CDA) to offer more benefits to Sanad card holders giving disabled people more privileges and discounts throughout the city; increase employment and create opportunities; improve access across the bank's facilities; and spread awareness of the challenges faced by the disabled community.

Financial burden

On an average it costs about double the amount to effectively educate a child with disabilities as it does to educate a child without.

Speaking to Khaleej Times Dr Ayesha Saeed Husaini Director Founder of Manzil - a non-profit centre focusing on the educational social and vocational well-being of individuals with disabilities - explained why.

"These children need a lot more regarding the student-teacher ratio. They need specialised support."

And Al Noor Training Centre Director Isphana Al Khatib agreed.

"We are not just responsible for teaching academics. We are teaching students life skills. How to eat walk talk and socialise."

At Al Noor Training Centre it costs Dh70000 per year to educate a student.

However the centre subsidises about 40 per cent of the cost by initiating fundraising and 35 per cent of parents do not pay the remaining fee.

"We step in to help out those people but fundraising is challenging."

Stephanie Hamilton is mother to a child with Down Syndrome. A resident in Dubai for 19 years she said she has been through the mill when it comes to financing her child's education.

"We applied to more than 40 schools and were rejected by all. Each application cost between Dh500 to Dh1000 and then on top of that we had to pay the yearly cost of her schooling fees."

Hamilton's nine-year-old daughter is now in mainstream school however the journey has not been easy.

"On top of the school fees we also employ a full time shadow teach for my daughter which is yet more cost. We have huge loans and bills just so my child can go to an inclusive school."

For Hamilton her long-term dream is to change people's perceptions of people with disabilties.

"It shouldn't be about discovering new tests to find out if your child is at risk of being born with a disability. We need to embrace people with disabilities. We can learn so much from them."

In 2014 a social survey conducted by Dubai's CDA showed there were more than 13000 adults and children with disabilities in the emirate.

Of this number more than 4900 are Emiratis and the overall figure is expected to reach more than 17700 by 2020 - 6650 of whom are expected to be Emiratis.

Kelly Clarke

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