Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Changes in Disability Sport in the UAE


Introduction:

Disability sports agencies in the world have been developed in the past years particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Based on previous studies these organizations were existed over 10 decades, until now there have been little studies done regarding understanding how these origination changes. Although these sports agencies became much more institutionalized and developed in the country, there are a small number of researches done addressing this matter. It has been always charming and appealing that the idea of changing has encouraged the academics throughout the years since it participates to our existence as human begins. The real life is a great example on how people are coming from different organizations from family to different aspect in life such as sports club, health services organizations are always changing as they dynamically understand their environment and respond to it to be able to remain and advance . This implies a constant change in order for the organization to reach its dreams and meet the demands of the ever-changing environments. Inside an organization, it is always been the idea of promoting change for the reason of developing its market, for example, improving the structure of the union, administration, knowledge and work techniques (Dawod, 2014).

Disability sport in the UAE:

In the 1980s, the disability sports events began when a number of people came up with a movement to sports incapacity sport in the UAE. This idea developed surprisingly until 1985 the Lajnat al-Maqeen (Support Committee for People with Disability) established in Sharjah city after receiving encouragement and support form (UAE Disability Sports Federation, 2010). Both committees met before shifting in Abu Dhabi in the Cultural Club in Sharjah to study the future and possibility of modifying it to be a club for disabled. Afterward, the development of the Support Committee for the People with Incapacity, the location for the official center for the committee has been approved (UAE Disability Sports Federation,2010).The UAE has given a lot of attention to the disability sport sector, since that people with disability are highly regarded participants of the country to whom care and attention should be focused (UAE Disability Sport Federation,2010). Therefore, the UAE has assumed support and care for people with incapacity with respect to the social health, sporting  and psychological sides of their lives (Disability Sports Federation, 2010).
The UAE provided the utmost care and attention regarding sport and cultural and make them sufficiently for the future, the government recognized the UAE Disability Sport Federation (DSF) in June 1996 under a verdict issued by the Ministry of Culture, youth and community Development .It is accountable for the progress of disability in the UAE and widening the sports base(Dawod, 2014).

The UAE has paid special respect to the locals with incapacity and has established the basis for the ventures and institutions to help them (Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, 2011). These bodies take care of people with incapacity and work to assimilate them in numerous various methods. In Article 21 the establishment of a "specialized committee for sports and culture for people with disability" within a Cabinet Division included the right for individuals with special needs as per the interim Constitution of the State Law (2006).All the chances to exercise safe and enjoyable athletic, social and leisure events where the main concerns for the committee in order to provide an integral improvement for each person. Furthermore, extending the possibility of attending in athletic, cultural and promotional events among each person with disabilities, and improving programs for capable staff to work with special needs in the areas of sporting, reformation and cultural. In addition, to help the incorporation of individuals with special requirements with their peers who do not have special needs (UAE Federal Law, 2006).
The youth and sports measured among the main priorities in the UAE including their qualifications, either by incorporating physical education as a subject in the basic education curriculum or supporting student scout movements. This was done with the aim of developing the personalities, talents, and the mental, physical and moral capabilities of people and imparting to them the necessary principles and values for improving their integration in mainstream society (Dubai Disability Sport Club, 2009).

Sports intended for the debilitated in the UAE remained set up far away later than in several industrialized nations (Dawod, 2014). Administrations supporting sporting events such as the General Organization for Youth and Sports, General Olympic Group and the Sports Coalitions Meeting have been proven in order to progress and apply a approach for increasing activity of both in health and individuals with incapacity in the country. Throughout the past years, yet, it was commonly recognized that there was an absence of evidence that would allow the concerned consultants to monitor improvement in this extent ((Dawod, 2014). The government is devoted to guaranteeing that everyone is provided with a chance to join in sports and physical exercise by reducing blockades and spreading select. Therefore, the UAE Disability Sports Federation (DSF) has a critical job to play in guaranteeing disabled people to enjoy the similar sports chances as their non-disabled peers (Dawod, 2014).
The DSF also supervises numerous other informal clubs for the incapacitated in the UAE
such as
(1) Al-Thika Incapacity Sports Club (ADSC) – recognized 1992

 (2) Dubai Incapacity Sport Club (DDSC) - recognized 1993
(3) Al-Ain Incapacity Sports Club - recognized 1997
(4) Al-Khourfakan Incapacity Sports Club - recognized 2005
(5) Abu Dhabi Incapacity Sports Club - recognized 2006

Disability sport and society:
It is significant to recognize the main viewpoints on incapacities and additionally inspect the role of incapacity sports organizations, over the years it has shaped our understanding. Over time, the contribution of disabled people to the community have been developed considerably, specifically in the area of education, healthiness, and work (Dawod, 2014). Inequality and prejudice that people with disability endure was largely prompted by incapacity and human rights activists based on increased understanding as explained by Filmer (2005).
 UAE Disabled Sports Federation recognitions:
There are several corporations across the country have recognized the federation of disabled in sports; one example is the Finance House in Abu Dhabi by announcing this year their donates consisting of 3 cars to the UAE Disabled Sports federation which reflect their positive impact on the society that it serves and a practical example of their long-standing promise (Finance House, 2014). Etisalat has also honoured the the UAE Disabled Sports federation with a cheque to present an appreciation to the UAE National Paralympics team’s recent accomplishments on an international level to inspire them for the future Olympics World Summer Sports in Althen earlier this year.“Etisalat is dedicated to supporting initiatives, which engage and encourage all members of UAE society, particularly in sports, where they are represented on an international level” Alahmed said mentioning on this event (pournami-tech). 
Disability in Islam and its relation to understanding change in sports organizations:
The attitudes of the public and practices regarding people with incapacity in UAE have been always informed by the teachings of the Islam, which is the main faith in the country. Islam praises that community take care of people with incapacity and support them with changes in aspect of life such as community care, education, health care, employment and sport in favor of helping them incorporate in community. As stated in the Islamic understandings of disability, the main concern depends on society to not only have positive approach towards the people with disability, but also to inspire them to develop their social circumstances (Alqura'n Al-Karim, 2009). Islam recommends that people's physical condition can be made better by sports and recreation. Islam also encourages practicing sports and recreational activists in order to improve and support the condition of people with disability (Al-ghazali, 1994).
The Islamic vision of incapacity might be realized as a predecessor of the social model of incapacity, which has been gaining credit in the West in earlier 40 years. The community idea of disability does not localize incapacity in an impaired or failing body. Instead, it shows incapacity, not as a result of individual weakness, but as an outcome of social obstacles (Shakespeare, 2006).Faith also forms the attention of organizational struggles, but even though the community answer to the problem of incapacity encouraged by the education of Islam, very little has been finished by the DSF. There are only five clubs in the UAE set in three central towns and the rest of the country does not have suitable sports establishment and a club linkage.
In 1996, the UAE administration of the Disability Sports Federation (DSF), as the single association accountable for sponsoring incapacity sports in the country, does not symbolize a fundamental modification in spiritual and cultural surroundings. However, it does organize a key change in strategy and the provision of sports facilities to people with debilities. In addition, the occurrence of belief over the individual and lawful realms make promising circumstances for a truthfully planned structural performance as it removes ethnic and community doubt as decisive causes in managing transformation. Religious conviction also offers the highest phonological of revolution, which suits an appreciated tool for handling administrative adjustment.


References:

Al-Qur’an Al-Karim (The Holy Qur’an). (2009). Damascus, Syria: AL-Yamama

Al-Ghazali, M. (1994) Religion and sport: Jeddah, Dar Al-Qalam

Dawood Ali. (2014). Understanding Change in Disability Sport in the UAE. Ph.D. Thesis: Brunel University


Dubai Disability Sports club Magazine, (2009). No1. Retrieved from www.dubaicss.com


UAE Disability Sports Federation magazine, (2010). No 2 Retrieved from www.uaedsf.ae
Sharjah City for Humanitarian Service, magazine, (2011).No. 20

UAE Ministry of Abu Dhabi, UAE Social Affairs (2006). Statistical indicators in the social affairs sector

Shakespeare, T. (2006). Disability rights and wrongs. New York: Routledge



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