King meets distinguished people with disabilities, commends their success, achievements

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday commended the determination of people with disabilities, reaffirming his pride in their initiatives and achievements.

At a meeting with people with disabilities, via video call attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania, King Abdullah told them they exemplify Jordanian perseverance, saying, “Each one of you is a success story”, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty urged the attendees to share their experiences with the community to inspire Jordanians with their positivity, noting that institutions must work more with people with disabilities.

The King said that he would follow up with the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) on issues raised during the meeting.

For his part, HCD President HRH Prince Mired thanked Their Majesties for their continued support for people with disabilities.

Prince Mired noted that the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities serves people with disabilities, stressing that there remains room for improvement.

Attendees expressed their gratitude for His Majesty’s support for people with disabilities and briefed Their Majesties on their work and initiatives.

Muhannad Al Azzeh, who has a visual impairment, is a former senator and currently serves as the secretary general of the HCD, as well as an internationally certified legal expert with several UN agencies; while Shaman Majali, who also has a visual impairment, has a master’s degree in law and is the director of legal affairs and spokesperson at the Social Security Corporation.

Kamel Saadi completed his education in the US, despite a motor impairment after losing his leg, and founded an institute for counselling and rehabilitation; while activist and volunteer Hadeel Abu Soufah, who also has a motor impairment, is a counsellor and trainer for others with disabilities, and has launched several initiatives to integrate persons with disabilities into society.

Sireen Qubbaeen, mother to a child with an intellectual disability, contributed to the employment of 13 persons with disabilities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Islam Zghoul, one of the first deaf IT graduates, chose to work in computer repairs for visually impaired students and developed the first sign language dictionary that includes terms from the legal and human rights fields.

Lt. Col. Rula Lahaweyah, a tetraplegic survivor of the 2005 Amman hotel bombings, is a nurse practitioner at the Royal Medical Services.

Retired Brig. Gen. Sharaf-Eddin Samara, a former military judge who has a motor impairment caused by a car accident, is a member of the board of directors of the Hashemite Commission for Disabled Soldiers.

Al Mutassim Billah Abu Mahfouth, who has tetraplegia and difficulties speaking since birth, was able to tell his story by writing two books, using his nose to type.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi attended the meeting.