‘Projected society to address concerns of dwarfism community’

AMMAN – Members of the dwarfism community in Jordan plan to submit a new request to the Ministry of Social Development next year to form a society. 

Louai Smadi, spokesperson of little persons in Jordan, on Monday said the number of dwarfs is high in the Jordanian community and they deserve to have a society. 

“There are 300 dwarfs in Jordan: 168 men and 114 women,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Smadi, who works at Jerash Municipality, said the community had previously submitted a request to the ministry but now have to submit a new one because of insufficient documents. 

“The society will help look after little persons in Jordan and further highlight their demands,” he added. 

Smadi noted that the community has a number of demands, one of which — tax exemptions — was recently met.

“Most dwarfs in Jordan face difficulty finding jobs because many public and private institutions do not want to hire us,” he said, noting that once they are able to secure jobs, other concerns will be addressed.”We ask for social security and health insurance coverage. If each of us manages to work, he/she will receive these two benefits.”

“The society, once established, will provide legal cover for the community and will press for addressing the concerns of its members,” Smadi said.