Jordan: Rehabilitation for people w/ disabilities

HI’s programs in Jordan focus on strengthening family support, improving care services in the community and creating environments where people with disabilities can participate socially, go to school, work and move freely. HI works closely with families, local organizations, and government agencies so that support systems are strong at home, in neighborhoods and at the national level.

With limited access to rehabilitation services and assistive devices, challenges finding safe and accessible transportation, and discrimination in the job market, life for people with disabilities in Jordan can be difficult. However, with your support, HI can provide skills training, encouraging employers to make workplaces more inclusive and improve access to health and rehabilitation services for people like Gina.

Gina’s family fled Syria in 2014 to escape the war and seek refuge in Zarka, Jordan. Their journey was a difficult one. The family had to walk for hours along poor roads. Once in Jordan, Gina's parents noticed that she was limping and in pain when she walked. Gina consulted an orthopedic doctor and was diagnosed with hip dysplasia.

“Going to school was very difficult, because my classroom is on the second floor and it was painful to climb the stairs,” Gina says.

After hip surgery, Gina spent six weeks at home in a cast. She then received rehabilitation treatment three times a week and did home exercises focused on strength and balance training and range of motion.

At first, she couldn’t walk on her own and used a walker for short trips and a wheelchair for longer ones. Three months after starting her rehabilitation exercises, Gina was walking on her own again.

“The home exercises were very effective. Now I can walk on my own again - and without pain."

Gina is ambitious. She is learning Spanish and hopes to be fluent one day. She dreams of being a vet and helping all the animals. Because of your support, Gina’s future is brighter.

Links:

• Humanity & Inclusion's website

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) has been supporting people with disabilities in Jordan since 2006 through a wide range of inclusive services. These include physical therapy, the provision of orthopaedic devices such as prostheses and orthoses, and the training of Jordanian healthcare professionals to strengthen the quality and sustainability of care. A core component of HI’s work is Early Childhood Development, which focuses on identifying early signs of disability and providing timely intervention to reduce the risk of complications. In addition to rehabilitation, HI promotes inclusive education, supports economic inclusion for youth and adults with disabilities, and works with government institutions to shift from institutional care to community-based support and independent living.

Ameer, a 4-year-old boy living with Down syndrome, is one of the many children benefiting from HI’s Early Childhood Development efforts. Ameer lives in Irbid, Jordan, with his parents, Mohammed and Ayat, and two older brothers. Both parents are deeply committed to Ameer's development and inclusion, striving to integrate him into a mainstream school and community life. With support from Humanity & Inclusion (HI), they’ve learned strategies to support his communication, motor, and cognitive skills, including using educational tools and facial massage techniques for speech therapy. Despite challenges like finding a school willing to accept a child with a disability and balancing the needs of all their children, they’ve found a welcoming preschool where Ameer is thriving. HI’s guidance has helped them become more confident caregivers while also carving out time for self-care and family balance.

Links:

• Humanity & Inclusion in Jordan