The Prince Salman Award for Disability Research comes as an expression of the genuine spirit of dedication to the issue of disability and persons with disabilities that has characterized our Kingdom since its inception by its founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abderrahman Al Saud. The legacy of such dedication lives on into the present day under the current reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Second Deputy Premier, His Royal Highness, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The tremendous efforts invested in the disability field by governmental institutions, including the Ministries of Social Affairs, Education, and Health through the establishment of centers, institutes, and mainstreaming programs throughout the Kingdom are an attestation to this effect. Moreover, higher education institutions have been active via the various academic units, research centers, and professional periodicals to advance scientific research in the field of disability.
In response to the need for achieving integration among the various sectors of civil society, a number of significant models within the private and charitable sectors has emerged to improve services offered to persons with disabilities in terms of their quality and quantity. Among the leading organizations in this regard are the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation, the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, and the Disabled Children Association.
It is an honor that the Award bears the name of His Royal Highness, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Riyadh Region; the man of noble deeds, wise initiatives, major humanitarian accomplishments, ample charitable endeavors, and, indeed, the Prince who has set the best instances of humanitarian devotion, giving, and progress. His dedication and genuineness in this respect have made him a model to be embraced. His Royal Highness has shown great interest in the cause of disability. This was proven through his founding of the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research, the first Center at the regional level that is dedicated to scientific research in the field of disability. The Center now enjoys a formidable reputation at the international level as well. As a result, the Center gave birth to this Award.
At its origin, the Award was initiated by His Royal Highness, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board of the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research. In fact, it was he who monitored its various stages of development and sponsored the process of its establishment. His Royal Highness was keen to stimulate the process of scientific research in the disability field locally, regionally, and internationally, as the most effective means for the prevention and minimization of the effects of disabilities.
- The Conceptual Development of the Award:
1- In the past, the Award used to be granted as part of the Disabled Children Association Award.
2- After its establishment, the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research was charged with the task of granting this Award due to its specialization in disability research.
3- The Award has been reformulated, and the conditions and parameters governing its granting have been defined.
· Award Objectives:
1- Stimulating endeavors at the local, regional, and international levels for the enrichment of scientific knowledge thorough advanced quality research in the different fields of disability.
2- Enhancing the environment of creativity and scientific excellence in the field of disability towards securing adequate methods, means, solutions, and alternatives amenable to preventing or minimizing the effects of disability on persons with disabilities and their families.
3- Establishing the concept of scientific research in the disability field and promoting its culture across society locally, regionally, and internationally.
4- Implementing the role of scientific research in the promotion of the programs and services offered to persons with disabilities.
5- Implementing the role of scientific research in adapting modern technology to the needs of persons with disabilities in order to enable them to achieve their goals, hopes, and aspirations.
6- Implementing the role of scientific research in creating social settings where persons with disabilities become producers and contributors to the development and prosperity of their communities, and not simply as consumers.
· Award Areas:
The Award is granted in the following three main areas of disability:
1- Health and medical sciences.
2- Pedagogical and educational sciences.
3- Rehabilitative and social sciences.
· Award Value:
Each one of the respective Award areas, as stated in Article V of the governing bylaws of the Award should consist of the following:
1- A certificate bearing the name of the winner as well as a summary of the work that earned him/her the Award.
2- An honorary medal.
3- A sum of two-hundred and fifty-thousand Saudi Riyals (SR 250,000).
· Award-Granting Procedures:
1- The Award is granted in all its three areas every two years, with the exception of the first preparatory session which will be three years.
2- The names of the winners are announced one month prior to the Award-granting day.
3- The Award is granted during a ceremony organized to this effect and inaugurated by one of the Kingdom’s dignitaries.
4- International dignitaries as well as prominent scientists and researchers from among those interested and specialized in the fields related to the Award areas will be invited to attend the ceremony.
5- A scientific symposium will be organized the following day to afford the winners the opportunity to present and disseminate their research findings and experiences.
· Award Committees:
1- Award Commission:
This Commission is entrusted with the following obligations:
a) General supervision of the Award.
b) Setting the general policy of the Award.
c) Sanctioning recommended adjustments and alterations within the organizational bylaws of the Award.
d) Sanctioning the developmental plans of the Award.
e) Sanctioning the periodical financial plan of the Award.
f) Sanctioning complete or partial withholding of the Award or inter-Award area exchange.
2- Award Committee:
This Committee assumes the following duties:
a) Sanctioning the periodic topics for the Award.
b) Sanctioning the Award nomination form and the periodical updating thereof when necessary.
c) Sanctioning the screening and selection committees.
d) Sanctioning the names of the referees.
e) Sanctioning informational print-outs and documents as well as activities and programs related to the Award.
f) Sanctioning the design and production of the Award winners’ certificates.
g) Recommending complete or partial withholding of the Award or inter-Award area exchange.
h) The Committee may coordinate with the scientific Committee at the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research in order to seek local, regional, or international assistance within its respective areas of specialization.
3- The Award Secretariat:
The Secretariat assumes full responsibility for all the procedural aspects of the Award in terms of preparation, follow-up, and implementation.
- Milestones of Award Sanctioning:
1- During the course of its first meeting held on 31/05/2008 and chaired by His Royal Highness, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Executive Committee of the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research assigned Dr. Nasser bin Ali Al-Mousa, member of the Committee and head of the Scientific Committee at that time, the task of preparing an integrated outline of the Award. The latter has been crystallized in the form of a draft for the organizational bylaws of the Award.
2- The Scientific Committee of the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research discussed in its first meeting held on 17/06/2008 the draft bylaws in detail, and made adjustments thereon.
3- The draft bylaws were then presented to His Royal Highness, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Center’s Board Chairman, who provided his feedback, recommendations, and instructions on the matter.
4- In its first meeting held on 9/9/2008, the Center’s Board approved the bylaws in their final form.
5- The Center’s Board delegated His Royal Highness, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board, to appoint the Award’s Commission Members, and to sanction its formation in conjunction with His Excellency the Minister of Health.