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UJ marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities

By Suzanna Goussous - Dec 04,2014 - Last updated at Dec 04,2014

AMMAN — The University of Jordan (UJ) on Thursday marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities with a seminar that included several activities.

“Almost 10 per cent of the world’s population have disabilities; we have to take care of them out of humanity and not sympathy,” HH Prince Mired, president of Higher Council for Affairs of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), said at the event. 

Prince Mired added that HCD has been offering internships to raise awareness among young Jordanians, and the media has been helping through different programmes and advertisements. 

“Although we have accomplished so much with regard to promoting equality amongst Jordanians, we still have to help students with disabilities get their education in the best possible way,” he noted.

“Jordan is achieving its message in opening channels of communication and attaining a better quality of life for everyone,” the prince said at the seminar, where students discussed the advantages of integrating people with disabilities into the community and turning their dreams into reality.

“We aim to raise awareness about our duties as individuals; we dream of a society where no one is excluded and all perceive themselves as equals,” noted Farhan Barghouthi, dean of the rehabilitation sciences faculty, which organised the seminar.

UJ President Ekhleif Tarawneh noted that people with disabilities believe every day is a blessing, which makes them want to compete more and become successful members of society.

“They have a vivid vision and they resemble the spirit that all Jordanians should have; they are inspirational examples and… we can do nothing but encourage them to pursue their dreams,” Tarawneh said 

“UJ made the routes easier for students with disabilities; the buildings and study halls are all constructed in ways that will facilitate their movement around campus,” he added.

“This day has gained global attention; it is a commitment to rehabilitate the roads and facilitate their education process so they can forget about their disabilities and succeed.”

The annual observance of International Day of Disabled Persons on December 3 was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1992. 

It aims to “engage people with disabilities in society and promote their accessibility to all walks of life, break all barriers and encourage equal participation of persons with disabilities in society”. 

“Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology” is this year’s theme and university students attending Thursday’s seminar also discussed using technology to help students with disabilities pursue their education.

“When they don’t have the physical ability to get the education they want, we can provide them with the technological devices that will enable them to learn,” an occupational therapy volunteer said.

Paralympic Powerlifting World Champion Mutaz Juneidi shared his experiences with the audience.

“We refuse to be on the margins, we are all one. Jordanians are known for their determination; we represent Jordan; I am one of the people who didn’t give up. You should not be defined by your disability, your inner spirit and insistence should be what define you,” Juneidi said.

Suheil Nashash, a runner, said he lost his sight 16 years ago due to medical malpractice.

“I didn’t let this define me; I had to find something that would describe me. I started running short distances and then moved to longer ones, I ran 42 kilometres in the desert and 25 kilometres in the forest at night and I was the only runner with blindness.”

Nashash said his next goal is to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in six days.

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