ICF training programme looks at social benefits for people with disabilities

STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT, DEC 26

Given the significant emphasis placed by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on the social system and the welfare of the Omani people as outlined in the Basic Law of the State and Oman Vision 2040, the Social Protection Fund co-organised an expanded training programme for more than 90 social and healthcare workers on how to determine whether or not beneficiaries are eligible for disability benefits.‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The two-stage program will enable participants to categorize the functional disabilities through a standardised International Classification of Functioning (ICF) assessment. It also aims to promote inclusion, equality, and empowerment of persons with disabilities. The program included a series of interactive courses and exercises offered by top-notch professionals in disability assessment for several weeks.

Shamsa Hamdan Salim al Tamimi, Head of the Work-Related Injuries and Diseases Department at the Social Protection Fund, said, "The training programme is launched in preparation for the application of the Executive Regulations of the Law on Social Protection. It aims to prepare and train a qualified cadre that will be able to carry out ICF assessments for persons with disabilities."

"During the program, the participants will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for ICF assessment in order to be able to categorise and early detect disabilities based on job performance. This assessment will help understand the medical conditions and needs of disabled persons and determine whether or not beneficiaries are eligible for disability benefits," she added.

Nada Malallah Rustam al Sadiqiyah, Assistant Director of the Department of Services for Disabled Persons at the Ministry of Social Development, pointed out that the training programme comes within the framework of Oman's special interest in meeting the requirements for disability assessment and categorisation included in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

"From an early stage, the Sultanate of Oman has assessed persons with various physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments based on their medical examination. According to this assessment method, the Ministry of Social Development has provided persons with disabilities with 'Disabled Person' cards that can be used as official documents to receive rehabilitation and support services offered by different government, civil, and private institutions," she said.

As for the purpose of the programme, she stated that the purpose of the training programme is to provide training to the staff of the Ministry of Social Development on how to carry out ICF assessment by professionals in collaboration with UNICEF Oman.

"The job performance-based disability assessment included several checklists and questionnaires designated for different age groups from early childhood to adulthood and covered a broad range of physical, sensory, cognitive, and social- behavioral evaluations. This assessment will help monitor the functional abilities of any person with disabilities in order to provide him/her with the necessary services and assistance through the new social protection system," she said.

Ruqayya Mahmoud al Balushi, occupational therapy technician at the Ministry of Defence, and Al Amal Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Centre, said that the training programme covered a wide range of topics and has provided participants with the necessary skills for the assessment of physical and mental abilities of persons with disabilities by their age groups, especially through the exercises that were performed during the program.

It should be noted that the cash benefits for the the people with disabilities are monthly cash payments who need to receive healthcare and assistance, whether their disability has been present at birth or developed over time. The social protection system aims to provide integrated social assistance and cash benefit programmes, social insurance programmes, and basic comprehensive social protection programmes that target different groups and lifecycle stages.