In this Law, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Disabled Person: Any person suffering from a permanent, total or partial, impairment affecting his senses, or his physical, mental, communicative, learning, or psychological abilities, to an extent that reduces his ability to perform daily activities compared to a non-disabled person.

• Disability: Suffering from one or more of the following impairments: Visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental disability, physical and motor disability, learning disabilities, speech disorders, behavioral and emotional disorders, autism, double and multiple disabilities, and other disabilities that require special care.

• Prevention: The set of medical, psychological, social, educational, informational, and legal measures enforced for the prevention, limitation, or early detection of disabilities as well as limiting their effects.

• Care: Comprehensive care services offered to any disabled person in need of care due to his health condition, degree of disability, or social status.

• Rehabilitation: A coordinated process to utilize medical, social, psychological, educational, and professional services for the purpose of empowering disabled persons to achieve the maximum potential of their functional efficiency so as to empower them to meet the requirements of their natural and social environment and develop their capabilities to become self-reliant and effective members in the community to the extent possible.

• The Supreme Council: The Higher Council for the Affairs of Disabled Persons.

The Supreme Council shall, in coordination with the competent authorities, set the engineering and architectural conditions and specifications that meet the needs of disabled persons in rehabilitation, training, educational, and care and treatment facilities, and in public places and other locations intended to achieve the purposes of this Law, provided that the relevant agency issues the necessary implementing decisions.

The Supreme Council shall, in coordination with educational and training institutions, qualify and train national manpower in the field of disability, within the Kingdom and abroad, and exchange expertise in this field with other countries as well as relevant Arab and international organizations and bodies.

The State shall grant disabled persons, whether individually or collectively, soft loans to initiate professional or commercial businesses that suit their abilities.

Devices and equipment designed for disabled persons shall be exempted from customs duty, provided that they are identified in a list agreed upon with the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.

A fund under the Council shall be established for the care of disabled persons in which donations, gifts, bequests, endowments, and fines for violations to the regulations governing the services provided to disabled persons, shall be deposited.

A supreme council for disabled persons shall be established, reporting to the Prime Minister. It shall be composed as follows:

• ● A President, appointed pursuant to a royal order, and the following members:

• ● The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.

• ● The Minister of Health.

• ● The Minister of Education.

• ● The Minister of Finance and National Economy.

• ● The General President of Girls’ Education.

• ● The Minister of Higher Education.

• ● The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

• ● The Secretary-General.

• ● Two disabled persons, two businessmen concerned with the affairs of disabled persons, and two specialists in the field of disability, appointed by the Prime Minister based on a recommendation by the President of the Supreme Council for a term of four renewable years.

The President of the Supreme Council may designate one of the members to act on his behalf in his absence.

The Supreme Council shall submit an annual report to the President of the Council of Ministers on its activities, the condition of disabled persons, the services provided to them, and the difficulties encountered, and on the support for services provided to the disabled.