Challenges Ahead

Despite Government policy measures and the steps taken by universities, the right of students with disabilities to higher education is not being adequately fulfilled. This can be linked to the lack of coordination mechanisms between the institutions responsible for persons with disabilities and higher education. Specifically, there are no liaison officers between the Ministry of Higher Education and HCAPD, and the Ministry is not a member of the Higher Council. Moreover, the Ministry of Higher Education stated that it does not handle any issues related to persons with physical disabilities and that such issues rather remain the responsibility of HCAPD and individual universities.

The limited accessibility of universities is an example of the incomplete fulfilment of the right to higher education for students with disabilities. The rules of acceptance procedures illustrate this point. Indeed, acceptance procedures for students with disabilities do not take into account physical proximity and many students with physical disabilities are accepted into universities in governorates where transportation to and from university emerges as a major hindrance. 

Moreover, even within universities, such as the University of Jordan, that have taken steps to facilitate the accessibility of infrastructures, the changes introduced are limited. Students with physical disabilities underline that, with the exception of buildings built over the past five years, colleges remain inaccessible; and the lifts in some buildings are only accessible by members of staff.

Discrimination is also a major persistent obstacle. It relates to the limited adaptability of higher education institutions. It is embedded in selection procedures (for example, persons with disabilities are not admitted in medical schools) as well as in administrative management (for example, students with physical disabilities are considered “non-regular students” and their cases are handled through HCAPD rather than through the regular university administration).  Furthermore, discrimination is apparent in the social stigma surrounding persons with disabilities within universities. Women, in particular, report harassment and insults. 

Overall, authorities and universities have made modest progress in facilitating the accessibility to higher education. However, this accessibility remains generally limited, and issues of adaptability or acceptability have yet to be addressed.