Conclusion

Empowering persons with disabilities to live independently by offering the services they need and opportunities to get involved in social activities, engage in development efforts and rely on themselves is an important indicator of a society’s degree of civilization.

Concern for persons with disabilities stems from a society’s culture, which in turn is based on religions and social values that call for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. This concern has subsequently been translated into legislative frameworks that take their rights into account and guarantee equal opportunities and the right to social inclusion within a safe environment that enables them to participate fully in society. Rehabilitation and training programmes have sought to identify the best approaches and practices for enabling persons with disabilities to live independently. The most important approach involves taking mobility and lifestyle into account when designing and constructing housing and public buildings, in addition to using technology when engaging with persons with disabilities and ensuring that they can access public services.

In Oman, concern for persons with disabilities stems from the Government’s keenness to ensure equal enjoyment of rights for this group. Oman is interested in empowering persons with disabilities through a legislative framework that safeguards their rights. National efforts have included the ratification of international conventions, the enactment of domestic laws, the establishment of institutions for matters relating to persons with disabilities and the training of specialists in the provision of care and rehabilitation services, as well as the safeguarding of access to education, health, employment and care services for persons with disabilities and support for them to start families.

The present study sheds light on the extent to which persons with disabilities are able to achieve the concept of independent living given the services provided by the state, the opinions of the study participants on these services and ways to increase their effectiveness. It reveals the need to develop a conceptual framework to consolidate comprehensive efforts and raise awareness of the independence of persons with disabilities in the family and society.

It should be noted that the provision and development of services is a continuous process that requires local efforts to be integrated with global trends in order to support the independence of persons with disabilities, raise awareness around disability and meet the needs of persons with disabilities. It remains that all members and institutions of society have a responsibility to provide services to and empower their compatriots with disabilities.