Prince Mired stresses disability inclusive infrastructure at meeting with Senate

AMMAN — HH Prince Mired, president of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), on Wednesday highlighted the need to prioritise inclusive education and ensure the supply of such services. 

The prince, during a meeting with the Senate’s Labour and Social Development Committee members, called for the scaling up of coordination among all related bodies to empower people with disabilities (PWD) by improving the required infrastructure, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He highlighted the necessity of ensuring people with disabilities’ needs are met in accessing government departments, educational facilities, hospitals and malls, in addition to public transport access. Additionally, the prince drew attention to the obstacles facing people with disabilities who wish to visit the Kingdom. 

He emphasised the need to enhance the political participation of disabled people, notably concerning their constitutional right to vote. 

Talks also went over the council’s efforts to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities, as well as plans to address the challenges facing them. 

Senator Issa Murad, head of the committee, highlighted that the Upper Chamber, in its response to the 2022 state budget bill, had made a number of recommendations related to the people with disabilities. 

These include the reduction or elimination of customs duties concerning materials required for the daily living of people with disabilities. This is especially relevant given that 11 per cent of the Kingdom’s population above the age of five is living with a disability.