Amman: The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) has entered into two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Amman Arab University and the Arab Open University. These agreements aim to provide technical support to enhance accessibility for students with disabilities at both universities.
According to Jordan News Agency, the MoUs were signed by HCD President HRH Prince Mired Bin Raad, Mohammad Al-Widyan, President of Amman Arab University, and Tahrir Hamdi, President of the Arab Open University. The event was attended by Omar Al-Jazy, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Amman Arab University. Prince Mired highlighted the council’s dedication to assisting higher education institutions in integrating students with disabilities and increasing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities within these institutions.
The agreements are in compliance with the legal requirements of higher education institutions under Articles 21 and 22 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law No. 20 of 2017. They also adhere to the principles in Article 4, which require the provision of reasonable accommodation, accessible formats, and inclusive design to ensure equal access to education. These MoUs are part of the commitments made by both universities during the Third Global Disability Summit, co-hosted by His Majesty King Abdullah II and the German Chancellor in April 2025 in Berlin.
HCD will support the universities in key areas such as upgrading infrastructure to meet national accessibility building codes, embedding inclusive education concepts and disability rights into curricula, enhancing communication strategies with students with disabilities, ensuring e-learning platforms are accessible, providing learning materials in accessible formats, and automating student services for improved access.
The agreements also include the establishment of “Access Centers” at each university to offer academic, psychological, and administrative support to students with disabilities, along with tuition discounts. This partnership reflects the commitment of Jordan’s higher education institutions to uphold human rights principles, equity, and inclusion in academia, aligning with both national legislation and international standards.