Social Affairs Ministry launches nationwide initiative to support people with disabilities

Minister of Social Affairs and Minister of Family and Childhood Affairs, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, announced that the distribution of prosthetic devices for individuals with disabilities will begin early next week, following a five-year suspension. The distribution includes hearing aids for the hearing impaired, with all eligible recipients expected to receive their devices before the end of the year.

Speaking at a ceremony honoring outstanding students with disabilities, Dr. Al-Huwailah stated, “You are the pride of Kuwait. Disability is not an obstacle — it is a source of hope.”
She praised the cooperation between government agencies in addressing the challenges faced by people with disabilities, and commended the Namaa Charity for supporting social initiatives, reports Al-Rai daily.

Dr. Al-Huwailah confirmed that the Public Authority for Persons with Disabilities has completed all necessary administrative and financial procedures to resume distribution. She said a budget has been allocated and that wheelchairs will also be distributed once individual measurements are taken.
To ensure service quality, border crossings have now been linked with relevant authorities to track the presence of individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, helping to identify cases where care arrangements are lacking.

She also disclosed that the United Nations has issued comments on Law No. 8 of 2010, citing an overemphasis on material benefits. The UN recommended Kuwait focus more on rehabilitation, education, and service provision. Dr. Al-Huwailah confirmed that these suggestions will be considered in future amendments.

The building code for persons with disabilities is now being applied to all new construction projects, while field inspection teams are assessing older buildings for compliance. Plans are also in place to expand diagnostic services and conduct home visits to better understand individuals’ living environments.

Dr. Al-Huwailah said the Ministry is coordinating with the Federation of Banks to ensure that financial services are accessible, and that people with severe disabilities are not required to be physically present for routine transactions.

The Minister announced the upcoming launch of an integrated sign language center and confirmed ongoing communication with educational institutions to introduce sign language education at the university level. She stressed the importance of integrating people with disabilities into the broader education system and society, including access to recreational facilities.

Dr. Al-Huwailah emphasized that Kuwait’s digital transformation is inclusive of all disability categories, and the Ministry is working to digitize services and streamline procedures, aiming to improve quality and accelerate service delivery.