Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
Inclusion International - ILSMH

Jordan

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Young Muslim Women's Association, Centre for Special Education, Jordan
Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Jordanian Government

General policy

There is no officially recognized disability policy. According to the Government, disability policy in Jordan is expressed in law. The emphasis is on accessibility measures, rehabilitation, prevention, individual support and anti-discrimination law.

Since the adoption of the Rules the government has not done anything to convey the message of full participation. The Government states that it has conveyed the message of full participation by conducting seminars and mass media campaigns.

Legislation

General legislation applies with respect to persons with different disabilities (with the exception of persons with mental disabilities) regarding education, and access to court of law. According to the Government, general legislation applies to all categories of disabled persons with respect to: education, employment, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court-of-law, the right to privacy and property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, training, rehabilitation and counselling, and participation in decisions affecting themselves. According to the Government, even the benefits of financial security, employment and independent living are guaranteed by law to disabled people.

Since the adoption of the Rules several laws have been enacted. According to the Government, no new legislation has been enacted since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment establishing national design standards, but they are not implemented yet. According to the Government there are laws to ensure accessibility requiring that public places, the outdoor environment, means of public transportation and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments. The Government states that accessibility is observed by the Ministry of Public Works, Municipal Councils and Engineering. The only measures promoted in order to ensure accessibility in the built environment are levelling off pavements, marking parking areas and providing specially adapted motor vehicles. According to the Government, even the measure of installing or widening lifts and accessible toilets has been promoted. There are no special transport arrangements. According to the Government there is special transport available for medical treatment. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments are economic/budgetary factors, lack of planning and design capacity, lack of knowledge, research and information, lack of user participation, lack of co-operation from other organizations/institutions and lack of enforcement mechanism. According to the Government, the only obstacle for building accessible environments is economic/budgetary factors. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers. According to the Government, there is such a component.

Sign language is recognized as the official language of deaf people and is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are government measures to encourage media to make their services accessible for persons with disabilities, but no measures to encourage other forms of public information to make their services accessible. The only service provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others is sign language interpretation for major events. According to the Government the services provided are: literature in Braille/tape, news magazines on tape/Braille and sign language interpretation, provided for any purpose.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization. There are legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making and to work with governmental institutions. Disability organizations are sometimes consulted when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. According to the Government, organizations are always consulted. Consultations occur at the national level. The government gives financial support to existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. The Government states giving organisational/logistic support to organizations of disabled people. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, political parties and NGOs. The Government states that disabled people to a great extent participate in NGOs.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Social Development. It includes representatives of Ministries, from organizations of persons with disabilities, from other NGOs and from parents associations. According to the Government, the co-ordinating committee also includes representatives from the private sector and disabled persons themselves. The government expects the committee to participate in policy development but not to perform other tasks. According to the Government, the co-ordinating committee is also expected to perform other tasks. It is too early for an assessment about the effects of the co-ordinating committee. According to the Government, the committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility, a better dialogue in the disability field and improved promotion of public awareness.

The adoption of the rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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Contents of the ILSMH Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): the Jordanian Government