Disability

The Facts

People with disabilities constitute some of the most vulnerable people in the occupied Palestinian territory and in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. In Lebanon, one in ten Palestinian families have at least one family member with a disability.

There is a strong correlation between disability and poverty. In Lebanon all households with a disabled member are classified as poor and in the occupied Palestinian territory 87% of adults with disabilities are not in work.

People with disabilities also face social isolation and marginalisation, especially in refugee camps where many adaptations and accessible public infrastructure are not available. There are few specialised rehabilitation services available to children and adults and a general lack of awareness of the rights of children and adults with disabilities.

Our response

MAP takes a social and rights-based approach to disability. We focus on removing the barriers to the participation in society by people with disabilities which complements medical care. Our projects provide rehabilitation support as well as advocating a rights-based approach to change practices and challenge public perceptions of disability by empowering people with disabilities to break down the barriers in the communities they live in.

Our projects

Support to Physiotherapy Centre and Early Intervention Unit, Lebanon

In Lebanon, MAP supports the Palestinian Women’s Health Organisation and Sour Community Disability Programme’s Physiotherapy Centre and Early Intervention Units to provide physical rehabilitation and educational support to children with physical and mental disabilities living in refugee camps. The physiotherapy centre also provides therapy to young people, adults and elderly people with physical disabilities. The project includes an advocacy and awareness component, aiming at empowering the beneficiaries and their families and at promoting a cultural shift in community attitudes towards people with disabilities.

Palestine Circus School for children with learning difficulties

In May 2019, MAP began a new partnership with the Palestine Circus School in the West Bank, using circus skills to promote and strengthen the participation of Palestinian children with learning disabilities in society.

By partnering with the Palestinian Circus School MAP is supporting young people, including those with disabilities, to change practices and challenge public perceptions of disability.

Hear from 18 year old Reda on how learning circus skills has improved his confidence and physical abilities.

Community-Based Rehabilitation, Gaza

MAP supports community-based rehabilitation activities in the middle Area of Gaza to promote an inclusive and accessible society for people with disabilities by activating their full participation in their local communities. The project’s activities include job skills training, media and radio training, drama and psychosocial support for people with disabilities and their families.

EARLY INTERVENTION UNIT, LEBANON

3,687 therapy sessions provided last year

100people received assistive devices

COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION, GAZA

70 people living with disabilities received psychosocial support

551families received counselling

DISABILITY

The Facts