Queen visits Our Lady of Peace Centre for Persons with Disabilities

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Sunday visited Our Lady of Peace Centre for Persons with Disabilities, which runs several programmes that aim to integrate people with disabilities into society, a statement by Her Majesty’s Office said.  

Her Majesty was welcomed by Bishop William Al Shomali, the centre’s director, Father Shawqi Batrian, its executive director, Sahem Madanat and sister Radieh Assafin, who showed her around the facility, while volunteers and refugee families working at the centre briefed the Queen on its outreach efforts and services.

While touring the centre, Her Majesty met with children receiving treatment for their disabilities at the physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments. She also joined activities for children and their mothers in the centre’s main hall.

The centre was established by the Latin Patriarchate, and inaugurated in 2004, with the objective of offering free social, humanitarian and spiritual rehabilitation services to people with disabilities regardless of social status or religious affiliation.

The centre currently runs two separate branches; a main branch in Amman and a secondary one in Aqaba. 

The Amman branch houses six different operational departments, each targeting a particular area of care with services including developing the cognitive skills of children with mild to moderate mental disabilities, providing counseling to autistic and mentally disabled children and their families, offering speech, physical and occupational therapy, and constructing custom artificial limbs for patients who have undergone amputation or poorly conducted surgical procedures. 

Seeking to minimise the toll of physical disability on patients and their families, the centre has also established various physiotherapy units in Fuheis, Zarqa, Mafraq and Anjara. 

Additionally, the centre welcomes many volunteers as part of its efforts to increase awareness about the correct caretaking methods for people with disabilities.