SPECIAL swimming areas will be allocated for people with disabilities at public beaches, said a top minister.
Work on such an area will begin immediately at the Karzakan Beach, revealed Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak.
Based on a review and assessment, the project would be expanded to other public beaches, he added.
The minister was commenting in writing on a proposal by the Northern Municipal Council to have a swimming area in Karzakan which was discussed at the council’s meeting yesterday.
“We have taken into consideration the needs of people with disabilities as we design the Karzakan Beach which will have ramp connecting the shore with water,” he explained.
“The beach will also have facilities of a high international standard catering to different disabilities such as special car parks and passages.
“Besides rescue operations, guards will be trained on how to deal with each disability.”
Mr Al Mubarak said the move was aimed at integrating people of determination into society.
Budaiya, Jasra, Hamala and King Fahad Causeway councillor Mohammed Al Dossary said that the project should be expanded to other beaches.
“There are many sites across the country that people with disabilities go to and could benefit from special swimming areas,” he said.
He added that allocating a site designated for swimming and equipping it with all water safety measures would mean ensuring the rights of people with special needs and equal opportunities for others.
“This is in line with the concepts of ‘inclusiveness’ and ‘leaving no one behind’, the two basic concepts that Bahrain government follows while providing services to the people with special needs in the community.
“The government pays great attention to providing care for people with special needs by eliminating barriers to equality and eliminating all forms of discrimination and this is set to happen with the Karzakan Beach.”
Swimming benefits children and adults with special needs, according to the UK-based National Autism Association.
It cites the US Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention as saying that swimming improves heart and lung health, and helps people with disabilities to maintain a healthy weight.
It also helps improve motor skills and co-ordination, builds muscle strength and increases flexibility.
Studies also show that swimming reduces pain for people with multiple sclerosis, arthritis and other disorders that cause chronic pain.
Swimming and aquatherapy also help to facilitate healing for those in rehab following an injury, and it also improves mental health.
MPs are also expected to discuss the issue before calling on the government to stipulate specific technical and engineering standards for all locations to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
This includes public places, places of worship, clubs, parking lots and markets, among others.
Based on feedback from the board and the councils, Parliament is expected make amendments to the concerned law.
However, it remains unclear whether the changes, if approved, will be applied to just new structures or the existing ones as well.
Social Development Minister Osama Al Asfoor recently told legislators that there were 13,765 challenged individuals registered with the ministry.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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