New gym specially designed to serve people with disabilities

AMMAN – Ahmad Masri, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has always been into sports, but he could rarely practise that hobby due to the lack of accessible sports facilities for people with disabilities.

That is why when the Orient Spirit Development (OSD) centre opened a gym for its students, Masri was among the first to join. 

“Training is really important to boost our fitness. I haven’t practised sports for a long time,” he told The Jordan Times after he took a break from working out at the new gym. 

The 25-year-old Masri is among 40 students benefiting from the gym at OSD’s headquarters in Amman.

People with disabilities learn around 11 crafts such as carpentry, sewing, cooking, and making jewellery and accessories at the centre.

Falesteen Awad, the centre’s director, said OSD is already providing students with vocational training, adding that they wanted to expand their services to further benefit the students.

“We noticed that there are no places for people with disabilities to enjoy their time or play any kind of sports so we decided to open this gym,” she added.  

Awad said many families used to tell them that their children find it difficult to play or practise sports because of lack of accessibility.

“Around 40 children are benefiting from the services of the gym and the priority for us is for people with disabilities and their family members,” the centre’s director added. 

Ghaith Qteishat, a trainer at the gym, said he decided to volunteer in this project after the centre asked him to work as a trainer.

“This is the first project in Jordan that is being done for the sake of people with disabilities. It will really be beneficial for them because sport is really good for their health,” he told The Jordan Times. 

Qteishat said the gym offers stationary bicycles, treadmills and other sports equipment designed for people with disabilities. 

“This project will help boost their mental and physical strength,” he added.

The trainer said it is important to have similar projects around Jordan because these places give people with disabilities the confidence to depend on themselves.

Earlier this month Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said people with disabilities constitute 13 per cent of the Jordanian community.