Saeed Al-Khotani and Hussein Abu Al-Sibaa Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Experts from more than 20 countries have gathered in Riyadh on Sunday to discuss challenges faced by the disabled members of society in urban environments. The two-day Saudi Forum on Universal Design 2012 opened at Riyadh InterContinental Hotel Sunday on the sidelines of the 20th anniversary celebration of the founding of Prince Salman Center for Disability Research. Dr. Sultan Al-Sudairi, Executive Director General of Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, and Dr. Tal'at Al-Waznah, Director General of Medical Services in the Ministry of Social Affairs, were present at the inaugural session. Mukhtar Al-Shaibani, President of Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) and general supervisor of the forum, said the organization presented its prize to Prince Sultan Bin Salman for his many contributions to serving the physically challenged. Al-Shaibani lauded the relentless care and support that all categories of society in general and the disabled people in particular receive from the government of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. He said activities of the forum include lectures by over 40 local and international experts. In addition to delegates from 20 countries, 400 Saudi engineers are attending the forum The forum will focus on the concepts of comprehensive accessibility to the urban environment, means of transport and technology. The forum will present international experiences in the field of comprehensive accessibility in order to benefit from them and exchange expertise, apart from acquainting people with the themes of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He said Saudi Arabia ratified this agreement in 2008. Al-Shaibani said GAATES, based in Canada, is nonprofit international organization with observer status at the United Nations. It is an alliance of experts from all over the world and has representatives in more than 30 countries. The organization carried out international consultancy studies for various countries besides international organizations such as the UNESCO and the World Bank.
