KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has launched a new digital services system designed specifically for people with disabilities, allowing them to complete transactions online through a range of accessibility-focused tools. The ministry announced the initiative Sunday, saying the platform is intended to make services easier to access and support the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the digital sphere.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Undersecretary Dr Adel Al-Zamil said efforts by state institutions to remove barriers for people with disabilities go beyond simply providing services. “The goal is not only to provide services, but also to empower people with disabilities to play their full role and participate effectively in various fields of development,” he said.
Through the new system, people with hearing disabilities can now communicate directly with ministry employees through sign-language video calls. Services have also been adapted for blind users through Braille-compatible features and for people with mobility disabilities through tools designed to support greater independence.
The ministry’s website has also been equipped with a range of advanced accessibility features, including screen-reading technology, voice input capabilities and sign-language translation of content. Additional tools allow users to adjust text, colors and contrast settings to better meet different accessibility needs.
Representatives of disability organizations welcomed the initiative during the event. Fahad Al-Enezi, head of the Public Relations Committee at the Kuwaiti Association for the Blind, thanked the ministry for what he described as a significant digital initiative serving a large segment of people with visual impairments. He said providing transactions and documents in Braille format, along with screen-reading technologies on the ministry’s website, represents an important step toward empowering blind users and making services more accessible. — KUNA
Khaled Al-Mutairi, president of the Kuwaiti Sports Club for the Deaf, also praised the initiative, saying it represents a major advancement in simplifying procedures and services for people with hearing disabilities. He highlighted the availability of direct sign-language video calls with ministry employees and digital translation of website content. “These tools contribute effectively to breaking communication barriers and enhancing the independence of deaf and hard-of-hearing people,” he said.
Al-Mutairi added that the services provide greater opportunities for direct communication and allow users to access services independently. Fawaz Al-Hasban, Ambassador of the International Alliance of the Deaf and Blind, said he was pleased by the ministry’s adoption of technological solutions aimed at reducing obstacles faced by people with combined hearing and visual disabilities, as well as other groups. — KUNA
