Over the past few days, the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) and the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) have followed the protests organized by a group of families and owners of private residential centers objecting to the de-institutionalization plans and the enforcement of relevant legal provisions.
While the Ministry and the Council emphasize their full understanding of the concerns of some families and affirm the legitimacy of their questions, they wish to clarify several facts. These must be clear primarily to the families and to all stakeholders in general, to prevent any attempts to disrupt the correct path aligned with the Jordanian Constitution—specifically the recent amendments where Article 6, Paragraph 5, underscores that the inclusion of persons with disabilities is an indisputable right. This path is also consistent with human rights and relevant international conventions that the Kingdom has pursued for years.
I. Humanitarian, Social, and Legal Facts:
1 Global Best Practice: Transforming residential systems into inclusive ones is a global best practice adopted by many countries, including those in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and developed nations.
2 Negative Impacts of Isolation: Lived reality has proven that residential systems have negative, lasting psychological, physical, and social effects on individuals and their families. Isolated environments exacerbate disabilities and lead to complete alienation from families. Studies, including a 2017 HCD study, show that many individuals entered institutions with mild to moderate disabilities but ended up with severe conditions and acquired new disabilities, such as psychological issues and muscle atrophy.
3 Risk of Violence: Residential environments are high-risk areas for various forms of violence. Regardless of how close the supervision is, the isolated nature of these institutions creates space for such practices.
4 Legal Framework: This transformation is not new; it is mandated by the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities No. 20 of 2017 and the De-institutionalization Strategy issued in 2019. It is also a core commitment under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) ratified by Jordan.
5 Proven Success: Pilot phases in government centers (Karak, Tafileh, and Al-Amal Center in Ruseifa) demonstrated that individuals reunited with families showed significant improvement in physical rehabilitation, psychological health, and self-reliance.
II. Statistical Facts:
1 Current Residents: There are approximately 1,407 beneficiaries in residential institutions in Jordan, distributed as follows:
◦ 800 beneficiaries (over half) are non-Jordanians in private for-profit centers.
◦ 130 beneficiaries are Jordanians in private for-profit and voluntary centers.
◦ 476 beneficiaries are Jordanians in MoSD-affiliated institutions.
2 Broader Context: According to the 2015 census, there are approximately 1.2 million persons with disabilities in Jordan (11.2% of the population). About 80,400 have severe intellectual disabilities, of whom only 607 are in residential institutions. This confirms that staying within the family—even for severe disabilities—is the natural rule, and institutionalization should not be the exception in legislation.
III. Alternatives and Follow-up:
1 Financial Support: Legislation provides for a package of rehabilitation services and financial aid of up to 600 JODfor families who take their children back from institutions or for foster families who host persons with disabilities.
2 Field Follow-up: The MoSD has established a rigorous field monitoring system for integrated cases in partnership with six specialized civil society organizations. This involves periodic visits and multi-dimensional individual assessments to ensure the quality of care and the sustainability of inclusion.
3 Personal Assistant Service: Plans are underway with the Vocational Training Corporation to develop "Personal Assistant" services to support families at home. Additionally, severe disabilities are exempt from non-Jordanian domestic worker permit fees to ease the burden on families.
4 Daycare and Early Intervention: The Ministry has prepared 30 Al-Manar centers to serve as inclusive day centers, along with mobile units for remote areas and early intervention units to prevent the aggravation of disabilities.
IV. Constants and Future Steps:
• Priority of the Individual: While acknowledging the challenges and fears, the Ministry and Council affirm that inclusion is in the best interest of the person with disability. This interest takes precedence over the desires of any party that views inclusion as a threat to their interests.
• Safety Net: The claim that families will be left to face an unknown fate is biased and false. These national institutions work around the clock to protect rights.
• Small Group Homes: For severe/multiple disabilities where a biological or foster family is unavailable or unequipped, the state is responsible for providing full care through Small Group Homes (housing no more than 6 individuals) located within the community with 24/7 care.
• Strategic Choice: De-institutionalization is a strategic choice and a state commitment. Jordan’s leadership in this field has made it a regional reference for other Arab and Asian countries.
In conclusion, alternatives to residential care provide opportunities for job creation and investment in inclusive day services and education. These offer much higher returns for service providers than the residential centers, which are currently being phased out worldwide.