Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Over 1 billion people, approximately 15 percent of the world's population, live with some form of disability. Around the world, people with disabilities face physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers that prevent them from participating fully and effectively as equal members of society. They lack equal access to basic resources, such as education, employment, healthcare and social and legal support systems, as well as having a higher rate of mortality. In 2006, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which aims to change people's attitudes and approaches toward disability to ensure the full equality and participation of persons with all sorts of disabilities in society and to involve them in the development of their communities. To commemorate this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday, VSA arts is organizing an art festival and a host of activities that people with special needs can participate in and enjoy in both Jeddah and the Eastern Province. The goal of these events is to raise awareness of disability, promote accessibility, remove all types of social barriers and increase inclusion of those with disabilities in the development of Saudi society. The organizers of the event welcome visitors of all ages: those with a disability and their family members, the media and all supporters of this cause. Special education teachers working at the children's centers and many volunteers are dedicated to the integration of persons with special needs in society, whether it is in schools, public recreation places, or the workplace. They have joined forces to make sure that everyone will have a good time and learn something on this day. Starting early in the morning on Tuesday at the Help Center in Jeddah, participants will draw and color on the sidewalk outside the center, turning the gray sidewalk into a colorful platform for creativity and imagination. Indoor festivities include watching a play starring those with special needs who have been rehearsing, training and memorizing their parts for weeks. Other interesting activities include wall painting, graffiti art, and poetry recitals. An art exhibition displays intriguing paintings by talented artists who have disabilities but have worked hard to develop their skills and channel their hobbies to achieve amazing results. In a show of support, famous young Saudi graffiti artists will be attending the events in Jeddah and Al-Khobar to meet children with disabilities, take pictures with them and communicate the message that these children are a valuable and beloved part of society. Saudi Arabia is an official country member of VSA arts, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974. The mission of VSA arts is to create a society where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy arts. In Jeddah and Al-Khobar, VSA arts organize and coordinate regional art programs and workshops for persons with disabilities. VSA arts also offer arts-based programs in creative writing, dance, drama, music and the visual arts. Nearly 5 million people with disabilities participate in VSA arts programs every year through a network of affiliates in the United Sates and 64 other countries worldwide.
