On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which falls on December 3 of each year, the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued, for the first time, a list of national and international institutions, bodies, and centers operating in Jordan that are most committed to inclusion standards and the quality of services. The list includes a classification of these institutions according to their field of work and the services they provide.
In the field of education, the names of several public and private schools emerged for demonstrating exemplary practices in integrating students with disabilities. The public schools included: Khawla bint Al-Azwar Secondary School for Girls / North Shouneh Directorate of Education, Naseeba Al-Mazniya Mixed Secondary School / Al-Jeeza Directorate of Education, Prince Hassan Neighborhood First Mixed Primary School / Marka Directorate of Education, Prince Hassan Neighborhood Second Mixed Primary School / Marka Directorate of Education, Jumanah bint Abi Talib School / Marka Directorate of Education, and Umm Al-Dananeer Mixed Primary School / Ain Al-Basha Directorate of Education. Among private schools, the leading names included: Al-Ahliyya and Al-Mutran School, the Evangelical Episcopal Arab School / Irbid, Jordan Alliance Academy, North City Academy for Early Intervention and Inclusive Education, and the National Orthodox School / Shmeisani. In the field of basic education, these schools topped the list, while in kindergartens, inclusive KG classrooms were newly established at Abdullah ibn Umm Maktoum School as part of the first phase of transforming it into an inclusive school specializing in the inclusion of students with visual disabilities.
In higher education, Yarmouk University, the Hashemite University, Jordan University of Science and Technology (specifically the Centennial Library building), Karak University College affiliated with Al-Balqa Applied University, and the University of Jordan topped the list of public higher education institutions in terms of beginning to prepare the university learning environment for students with disabilities and employing administrative staff and faculty members with disabilities. Meanwhile, Al-Hussein Technical University topped the list of higher education institutions governed by special regulations.
In the area of accessibility and environmental adaptation, the leading entities in the transport sector were the following Bus Rapid Transit stations: Tareq, Sweileh, and the Jordan Museum station in Amman, along with Queen Alia International Airport. In the government sector, the main headquarters of the following institutions topped the list: the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Health, the Civil Service Bureau, the Directorate of Health of Irbid Governorate, the Senate, the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission, the Chief Justice Department, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the Institute of Public Administration, the Vocational Training Corporation branches in Ajloun, Mafraq, Russeifa, Aqaba, and Karak, and the Social Security Corporation branches in Ma’an and Madaba. In the justice sector, among the courts under the Ministry of Justice (civil judiciary), Jerash Courthouse and Salt Courthouse topped the list of accessible buildings. Among the courts under the Chief Justice Department (Sharia judiciary), leading facilities included Sweileh Sharia Court, the Irbid Sharia Courts Complex, Arjan Sharia Court, and the Sharia Judicial Institute in the capital. In the public health sector, the following institutions topped the list: Princess Iman Governmental Hospital / Ajloun, New Salt Hospital, Princess Rahma Hospital / Irbid, Princess Basma Hospital / Irbid, Sakhra Health Center / Ajloun, and Sahel Horan Health Center / Irbid. In the voluntary health sector, the Institute for Family Health in its branches in Sweileh, Zarqa, Karak, and East Amman topped the list. In the Public Security Directorate, the leading facilities included: the Marka Vehicle Licensing Department, the Centralia District Police Center, and the Command and Control building at the PSD headquarters. Meanwhile, the following private-sector companies in the telecommunications field demonstrated notable compliance with accessibility building codes for persons with disabilities: Orange Jordan / Orange showroom at Seventh Circle in Amman, Orange main showroom in Irbid, Umniah showroom in Gardens, and Zain headquarters / Amman.
In the tourism sector, the list of accessible tourist sites was topped by: the Jordan Museum, Petra Museum, the Children’s Museum, and the Royal Tank Museum. The list also included the Citadel (Jabal Al-Qal’a) as one of the tourist sites that has begun implementing accessibility works to enable visitors with disabilities to reach archaeological landmarks inside the site. As for restaurants, the list included: Suwar Al-Yasmeen Restaurant / Zarqa, Tal Al-Rumman Resort / Balqa, and Ward Restaurants / Amman. As for hotels, the list included: Ayla Oasis Resort / Aqaba / The Ritz-Carlton / Amman, Crowne Plaza Hotel and Hilton Hotel / Dead Sea, St. Regis Hotel and Fairmont Hotel / Amman, Geneva Hotel / Amman, and the InterContinental Hotel / Amman.
In the field of employing persons with disabilities, the list showed that the government institutions most compliant with the employment quotas stipulated by the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities—and most successful in providing inclusive work environments—were: the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at 28.9%, the Civil Service Bureau at 7.5%, the Hajj Fund at 3.9%, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research at 3.5%, the Greater Amman Municipality at 2.9%, the Ministry of Social Development at 2.5%, the Department of Lands and Survey at 2.1%, the Ministry of Finance at 2%, the Ministry of Youth at 2%, the Social Security Corporation at 1.6%, the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission at 0.8%, and both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education at 0.8% each. The Ministry of Labor also included persons with disabilities in the National Employment Program and extended their training period to 12 months while increasing its salary contribution for persons with disabilities to 182 dinars, bringing the percentage of persons with disabilities employed during the current year to 0.24%.
In the private sector, the following institutions topped the list of entities achieving decent employment for persons with disabilities, though still requiring full workplace accessibility improvements: Rimara Park for Packaging at 20%, Rich Pine Factory / Irbid at 10.6%, Al-Okab Factory at 10.6%, Safe Tech Plastic Industries at 6%, Shams Al-Balad Restaurant at 5.6%, Firefly Restaurants at 5%, Shobak Garment Factory at 5.2%, Al-Muasiroun Woven Plastic Bag Company at 5%, New Century Factory at 4.2%, United Pharmaceuticals at 4.2%, Landmark Hotel at 2.4%, McDonald’s at 2%, Daraghmeh Stores at 1.7%, Zain at 1.5%, and Orange at 1.6%. In the banking sector, the institutions with the highest employment rates were: the International Arab Islamic Bank at 4.4%, Housing Bank at 4.2%, and Arab Bank at 2.6%. In the military sector, the employment rate of persons with disabilities reached 2% among civilians appointed in the General Command of the Armed Forces, and 2% among civilians appointed in the Public Security Directorate.
In the field of independent living, the list showed that several inclusive day centers have demonstrated strong responsiveness and active efforts to provide high-quality, integrated day services. In the government sector, these included: Al-Wasatiya Integrated Day Service Center / Irbid, Al-Mashare’a Integrated Day Service Center, Ramtha Integrated Day Service Center, Jerash / Potash Integrated Day Service Center, and Al-Koura Integrated Day Service Center, in addition to Bayt Al-Liqa Center in Madaba from the voluntary sector. Regarding institutions providing high-quality rehabilitative services for persons with disabilities in the private and voluntary sectors, the leading institutions included: Sanaa Association, Al-Hussein Society – Comprehensive Training Center, the Muslim Girls Association, the South Association for Special Education, the National Community Rehabilitation Society, Tafilah Sons Association, and Child Welfare Association / Mafraq.
As for institutions that have begun applying alternative care models and independent living programs, Al-Amal Center / Russeifa, affiliated with the Ministry of Social Development, emerged as the leading institution in transitioning to an integrated day-service model and providing day services to the local community, becoming the first residential institution to be transformed into a day center promoting independent living for persons with disabilities. The center successfully integrated 34% of all its beneficiaries. It was followed in second place by the Karak Care and Rehabilitation Center / Ministry of Social Development, which integrated 17% of its beneficiaries, and then the Tafilah Care and Rehabilitation Center / Ministry of Social Development, which integrated 11% of its beneficiaries.
In the field of accreditation and quality, the list indicated that several centers had previously obtained accreditation from the Council based on standards and checklists and have maintained their service quality. These included: Al-Bunayyat Center for Special Education, the Muslim Girls Association Special Education Center, Al-Masar Child Development Center and School, Nazek Al-Hariri Center for Special Education, Our Lady of Peace Center for Persons with Disabilities, the Applied Consultation Center for Special Education, Sahil Horan Development Association for Disability Care, Zarqa Comprehensive Center for Inclusive Day Services, Child Welfare Association – Mafraq, Rafeeqa Endowment for Persons with Disabilities, the National Association for Special Needs, and the Parents and Friends of Persons with Disabilities Association.
In the field of protection from violence, the list highlighted a number of institutions that adopt strict policies and safeguards against violence and discrimination based on disability and demonstrated strong cooperation in identifying such cases. Among the most prominent were: the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health, and the Family Protection Department / Public Security Directorate as entities responsible for providing protection services, detecting cases of violence, and delivering services to survivors. As for institutions specializing in developing anti-violence policies and programs, coordinating with national stakeholders, and producing procedural guidelines for persons with disabilities, the most notable were: the National Council for Family Affairs, the Higher Population Council, the National Center for Human Rights, and the Jordanian National Commission for Women. Several civil society organizations also stood out for their role in raising awareness about disability-based violence and providing psychosocial support services and sexual and reproductive health services, including: the Institute for Family Health, ARDD, Justice Center, Solidarity Institute (Tadamun), and the Family Violence Protection Association.
The list also included, according to the Council’s daily media monitoring for 2025, media institutions that have shown interest in disability issues and provided objective coverage. These included: Community Media Network, the Jordan News Agency, Al-Mamlaka TV, and the newspapers Sada Al-Shaab and Al-Ghad. Another group of media organizations showed consistent quantitative coverage of disability-related events and maintained good communication with the Council, including Al-Mamlaka TV, Roya TV, Public Security Radio, Jordan Radio, and Hayat FM.
The list also included the names of international bodies and organizations operating in Jordan that demonstrated strong responsiveness and cooperation in supporting disability-related projects and initiatives. The most notable included: the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the German Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Union, UN agencies in general, especially UN Women, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, ESCWA, UNICEF, and UNESCO, as well as CBM (Christian Blind Mission), KOICA, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, the French Development Agency, Humanity and Inclusion, Irish Aid, and USAID.
In the banking sector, the list showed that a number of banks demonstrated strong compliance with the 2018 Central Bank instructions regarding customers with disabilities and provided a wide range of inclusive banking and credit services, in addition to preparing many of their branches. Among the leading banks were: the International Arab Islamic Bank / Abu Alanda branch, the Jordan Islamic Bank / Jabal Al-Hussein branch, Cairo Amman Bank / Wadi Saqra branch, and the Housing Bank / Jubaiha and Madaba branches, as well as the Jordan Kuwait Bank / General Administration Building.
In the field of responding to disability-related inquiries and complaints, the fastest entities in responding were: the Ministry of Interior (the Department of Nationality, the Amman Governorate, the Public Safety Department, and the Security Affairs Directorate), the Public Security Directorate (Civil Defense, the Family and Juvenile Protection Department, and the Correction and Rehabilitation Centers Department), the Ministry of Health (Prince Hamzah Hospital, Al-Bashir Hospital, Karak Governmental Hospital, Mafraq Governmental Hospital, Zarqa Governmental Hospital, Salt Governmental Hospital, the Capital Health Directorate and its medical committees, and Zarqa Health Directorate, and the Health Insurance Administration), the Royal Medical Services, the Airports Security and Protection Directorate, the National Aid Fund, the Civil Status and Passports Department, the Greater Amman Municipality, and the Internal Audit Directorate at the Ministry of Education.
In the area of seeking knowledge and technical support to build capacities related to the rights of persons with disabilities and ensuring accessibility across various sectors, the following institutions topped the list: the Institute of Banking Studies, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the Public Security Directorate, the Jordan Kuwait Bank, the Independent Election Commission—especially regarding the political participation of persons with disabilities during all stages of the electoral process and in training staff working in this field—and the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
In the field of empowering persons with disabilities during crises, the list was topped by the National Center for Security and Crisis Management for its inclusion of disability requirements in national crisis plans during the preparedness and response phases, and for its efforts to build the capacities of organizations of persons with disabilities and national institutions in this field.
Regarding governors’ councils and municipalities responding to disability rights and issues, the list included: Irbid Governorate and the Irbid Governorate Council, which allocated funds for disability-related projects, supported the survey of Koura District, and developed the model area on Shafeeq Rasheedat Street and the university district in Irbid, as well as adapting Yarmouk University. Greater Irbid Municipality also appeared on the list for adapting King Abdullah II Gardens and preparing the main municipal building. The list also included the Karak Governorate Council, which allocated 90,000 dinars from its 2026 budget to adapt a school in the governorate to become inclusive for persons with disabilities and to provide assistive devices, in addition to adapting the Student Affairs Deanship at Mutah University. It also included the Ma’an Governorate Council, which allocated 30,000 dinars from the 2026 budget to provide assistive devices, as well as the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, and the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company for supporting and hosting diagnostic committees responsible for issuing disability identification cards in the southern region.
It is worth noting that the Council relied in preparing this list and classifying the most disability-inclusive and supportive institutions on its quantitative and analytical data, partnerships, and field visits conducted throughout the year.
The Council also noted, in an unprecedented step, that it has prepared a list corresponding to each category that includes the names of institutions and bodies that recorded exclusion, discrimination, or clear non-compliance with legislation and standards related to inclusion and the integration of persons with disabilities. This list will serve as a basis for contacting the leadership of those institutions and coordinating with them to improve performance and raise the quality level of the services provided.