Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has upgraded all its buildings to be compliant with the Dubai Universal Design Code. All Customer Happiness Centres are easily accessible by People of Determination, DEWA said on June 25.
DEWA has redesigned all of its facilities and buildings to be accessible for people with disabilities in all emergencies by placing audio and visual alarms, alarms in toilets, and evacuation wheelchairs on all floors. DEWA also has a helpline for them in parking areas, wheelchair service, directional tactile paving for blind people, staff trained in sign language, service priority, screens for remote video chat, booklets in Braille, and other services to streamline transactions by people with disabilities.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said that DEWA’s pioneering experience in including and empowering People of Determination aligns with the National Policy to empower People of Determination, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create an inclusive society that ensures empowerment and a decent life for People of Determination and their families. It also supports the ‘My Community… a City for Everyone’ initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a city that is accessible for People of Determination. DEWA currently has 6,137 employees trained to deal with People of Determination and 22 employees have earned sign language diplomas. DEWA currently has 29 Employees of Determination with various disabilities. Their happiness score was 99% and their families’ happiness was 96% in 2020. Customers of Determination scored their happiness with DEWA’s inclusive services at 95% and society happiness towards DEWA’s support for People of Determination was 94% in 2020.
DEWA provides Customers and Employees of Determination with smart systems and supporting services to enable them to access information and different facilities inside DEWA’s buildings. These include:
DEWA provides interactive maps with an audio notification to provide people with disabilities with information and directions to reach their destinations inside DEWA’s buildings. The maps include Braille writing and embossed letters to make them easier to read. These maps are located in all DEWA’s building entrances.
DEWA uses hearing loop technology, which is an advanced hearing aid technology design to assist people with hearing disabilities. The hearing loops transmit sounds through electro-magnetic waves so sounds reach the user clearly and are noise-free. Those loops are available at all Customer Happiness Centres, training halls and meeting rooms at DEWA’s buildings.
DEWA provides its technical and design employees with an electronic automated training for Dubai Universal Design Code application and technical supervision which increases their technical and field experience. Also, DEWA launched an awareness and training programme on the Dubai Universal Design Code and its requirements to become a key component of DEWA’s new joiners’ agenda. This introduces them to the Code’s applications, the reason for adopting it at DEWA’s buildings, and the importance of abiding by its regulations in all facilities and buildings.
In 2019, DEWA launched the ‘Inclusion of People of Determination Innovative Incubator’ initiative to encourage DEWA’s subsidiaries on the inclusion of People of Determination. DEWA also provided training and awareness programmes to suppliers and universities in the UAE to motivate them to implement the necessary requirements in including and empowering people with disabilities.
