On Saturday, July 29, 2023, the Authority of People with Disabilities (APD) launched its third edition of the "Purple Saturday" initiative in an effort to encourage the participation of people with disabilities and enhance their integration into society as part of the APD's goals to advance the services provided to them. The initiative, which occurs annually on the last Saturday of July, has contributed to the formation of a dynamic social movement that raises public and private sector awareness of the needs of people with disabilities, improves the services offered to them, increases their independence, empowers them through participation in various activities, thoroughly involves them in all aspects of life, affirms society's responsibility toward them, and encourages their social integration.
In an event arranged for this special occasion, the Authority of People with Disabilities honored and celebrated all initiative participants. During the event, notable achievements and statistics were highlighted, and business owners were educated on how to better serve customers with disabilities by making stores, websites, and customer service more accessible. The event also examined several successful implementations of the "Purple Saturday" initiative and shed light on some of the obstacles encountered by people with disabilities in stores. The sectors that participated in the event were health, education, sports, and entertainment. Participating industries included retail, food and beverage, perfumes, electronics, tourism, travel, and domestic goods. In addition, public outdoor displays contributed by displaying activities designed to raise awareness of the significance of integrating individuals with disabilities.
The APD was satisfied with the level of participation and engagement in the initiative's third edition this year. The initiative demonstrated the importance of this group in society and the necessity of addressing disability-related issues. Thanks to the facilitation card issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) and accessible through the "Tawakkalna" app, the initiative enabled people with disabilities to receive offers and discounts from a variety of sectors, in addition to the health and rehabilitation services provided by specialized centers.
The APD is collaborating with various government, private, and non-profit sectors to improve the quality of services provided to people with disabilities. It seeks to enhance care, prevention, and empowerment standards. In addition, the APD strives to accomplish the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 pertaining to issues involving people with disabilities. It aims to serve as an umbrella organization for all issues pertinent to them by empowering them in society and enhancing their participation in developmental initiatives through collaboration with a variety of entities.
