KSCDR’s participation in the 11th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is part of its role in highlighting the empowerment and integration of people with disabilities. The center"s efforts included the introduction of the Universal Accessibility Program aimed at creating a barrier-free environment and helping persons with disabilities communicate and use modern facilities and technologies. JEDDAH: The King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) joined a Saudi delegation headed by Dr. Tamader bin Youssef Al-Rammah, deputy minister of labor and social development, to an international conference on rights for the disabled held at the UN headquarters in New York. KSCDR’s participation in the 11th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is part of its role in highlighting the empowerment and integration of people with disabilities through research in collaboration with government and private sectors. Dr. Ali bin Nasser Al-Odaib, KSCDR’s director of research and training, said the center had also taken part in scientific sessions to empower people with disabilities and provide them with health, education, training and rehabilitation services. KSCDR’s efforts included the introduction of the Universal Accessibility Program aimed at creating a barrier-free environment and helping persons with disabilities communicate and use modern facilities and technologies. Al-Odaib said the center’s delegation reviewed the program of early detection of disability, including the program of early detection for newborn babies to alleviate disability rates. A number of research projects implemented by the King Salman Center were reviewed, such as the National Health and Life Stress Program, the general education curricula targeting students with disabilities project, and the genetic diagnosis of diseases leading to disabilities such as blindness and hearing loss. KSCDR training and education were also presented, including a computer program that allows people with disabilities and learning difficulties to receive Ministry of Education training. The delegation discussed the efforts of the King Salman International Award for Disability Research in its three branches aiming to support scientific research and encourage researchers to tackle the field of disabilities. It also highlighted the center’s efforts in organizing international conferences about disability and rehabilitation since 1992, which help raise the scientific and practical standards of workers in this field.