Autistic people to get special services

Dubai: The Customers Council of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has decided to include autistic people in the special needs category, offering them facilities provided to people with special needs, it was announced on Monday.

Mohammad Obaid Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of the RTA's Marine Agency and Chairman of RTA Customers Council, said the inclusion of this category of people came in the context of the RTA's ongoing drive in adopting the best practices to uplift the level of services to its customers with special needs. "Persons with special needs are entitled to facilities and services including dedicated parking, discounts and special seats in public transport including buses, the Metro and the marine transport," he said.

Al Mulla said the aim of providing services to people with special needs is to integrate them into the society and utilise their capacities in the building and progress of the UAE.

Solution package

The Council took into consideration opinions and suggestions by people with special needs, and incorporated them into the package of solutions. Al Mulla said that solutions included incorporation of autistic people, visually and hearing-impaired individuals and the physically challenged individuals to the list of beneficiaries from RTA services.

The RTA will provide special needs parking stickers to their vehicles or vehicles of their relatives (if used by them) and those of their related organisations. The solutions also included issuing cards with their photos and designated counters at customer service centres.

The Council recommended the provision of parking cards to be issued by the RTA based on medical evidence.

The Council also recommended designated pick-up and drop-off points for short periods at the main entrances to public places allowing relatives of the people with special needs to park their vehicles for a few minutes.

Al Mulla said the Council stressed the importance of issuing a Guide incorporating all services provided by the RTA to people with special needs and ensuring its distribution to all service-providing centres including the Metro.

The RTA also urges major project developers in Dubai to conform to the international standards and specifications required by the RTA. This includes the construction of pavements and designing of parking spaces compatible with the best world practices in the welfare of people with special needs .