Berlin: The Jordan Museum took part in the Global Disability Summit held in Berlin from April 3-4, inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah II and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and attended by Jordanian and international institutions.
According to Jordan News Agency, the museum’s engagement followed the recent rehabilitation of its premises and exhibitions to accommodate visitors with various disabilities. These enhancements aimed to ensure accessibility to exhibition halls and services, mainly efforts aimed to highlight Jordan’s cultural and civilizational contributions throughout history.
Representing the museum, Yosha Alamri, Director of Technical Affairs, delivered a lecture themed: “The Jordan Museum’s Experience in Bridging the Gap in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Inclusive Tourism,” outlining the museum’s efforts to integrate accessibility into its infrastructure and visitor experience.
The museum also participated in an exhibition held on the summit’s sidelines, showcasing a tactile replica of the 10,000-year-old Ain Ghazal Statues. The model was designed specifically to allow visually impaired visitors to engage with the artifact through touch, providing an inclusive and interactive experience.
Rehabilitation work at the Jordan Museum included modifying the main visitor route, upgrading service areas and exhibition spaces, and introducing accessibility features such as sign language interpretation in films, audio descriptions, and tactile models of key exhibits. These measures were implemented to support a broader vision of inclusive cultural engagement.
Visitors and participants at the summit responded positively to the museum’s initiatives, particularly the provision of touchable exhibit replicas and QR codes linking to audio information in both Arabic and English. These tools were praised for enhancing accessibility for visually impaired individuals.
The museum’s participation came as part of the broader “Lighting the Path to Diversity and Inclusive Art” campaign, launched at the Jordan Museum on January 30 under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mired bin Ra’ad, Chairman of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. During the campaign, the museum was lit in yellow and blue to symbolize inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities.