Amman- 21 March 2023
Under the patronage and organization of the German Jordanian University, School of Architecture and Built Environment, a symposium entitled “Designing for intellectual disability in Jordan” was held in SABE campus on Tuesday 28/02/2023. Representatives of the Ministry of Social Development and representatives of some associations in the private and public sector for people with disabilities, experts, professors, architects and urbanists in this field, in addition to the presence of a large number of attendees, such as some interested in the sector of people with disabilities have attended. This symposium was sponsored and patroned by GJU and the American Institute of Architects (AIA Middle East).
The symposium program included a discussion of a number of related subjects through two topics. The first dealt with the reality and strategy of the rights of persons with disabilities in Jordan through papers related to Law No. 20 of (2017) and mental disability, its concept, classification, measurement and diagnosis, the private sector and the role of residential care and rehabilitation centers of mental disabilities. The impact of community interaction with people with autism spectrum disorder and its effect on their families.
The second topic discussed a proposal for a day center and inclusive housing project presented by GJU graduate Arch. Rayan Hashim Fadil, as a response to the law in a manner that commensurate with the architectural requirements and integration with society. Architectural strategies and principles of design for intellectual disabilities, urban models and examples of projects for people with disabilities were also reviewed
At the end of the symposium, in which Dean of SABE, Dr. Omaima Ali, Consultant of Special Education and Professor Farouk Al-Rousan, Head of the Department of Replacements Residential units at the Ministry of Social Development, Dr. Khaled Al-Maaytah, ,President of the Jordanian Society for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mr. Mowaffaq Al-Zamil, representative of Jordan AIA Middle East, Arch. Raed Al-Naber, Former President of the Association for Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Dr. Hashim Al-Fadil and a number of professors and architects such as Dr. Deyala Tawarneh, Arch. Ghadya Alsona, Arch. Hadeel Qatamin, Arch. Mohammad Alfar and Arch. Muhsen Albawab presented recommendations related to alternatives to sheltering and creating an integrated design, and several suggestions will be presented to the official authorities for study and consideration.