We are proud to announce a significant milestone at the University of Jordan. We were honored with an invitation to submit an application for a new Cochrane Thematic Group, provisionally titled “Functioning, Disability and Rehabilitation.” This invitation is a testament to our university's commitment to excellence and leadership in the fields of functioning, disability, and rehabilitation on a global scale. Our application was not only approved but also led to our inclusion as one of the main members in this prestigious consortium. This partnership underscores our dedication to advancing rehabilitation sciences and improving health outcomes worldwide.
Dr. Rawan AlHeresh, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Jordan, received a commemorative shield from Times Higher Education for being nominated as one of the top 8 initiatives for outstanding contributions to regional development in the Arab world for 2024. This recognition honors her pioneering contributions to the "Toward an All-Inclusive Jordan" program, which reflects her vision and ongoing efforts to achieve comprehensive integration of people with disabilities in the Jordanian community.
The "Toward an All-Inclusive Jordan" program, founded and managed by Dr. AlHeresh since 2018, serves as an inspiring model for academic-community partnerships, focusing on education, clinical training, and community awareness about rehabilitation and disability. It emphasizes the role of universities in building institutional community partnerships to bridge the rehabilitation services gap in Jordan. Through this program, more than 1,500 families of people with disabilities across Jordan have been supported, focusing on the use of the Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) methodology to empower individuals and families and promote their rights.
Dr. AlHeresh expressed her pride in this recognition, noting that the award highlights the importance of community work and building strategic academic-community partnerships based on community needs to change the lives of individuals and communities for the better. She stated, "This achievement reflects our community commitment as academics towards building solutions to societal problems, such as bridging the gap in providing rehabilitation for the less fortunate, in the absence of these services systematically for people with disabilities and their families."
It is worth mentioning that this recognition is granted to appreciate outstanding efforts in developing the Arab community, and it represents global recognition of the role that academic institutions play in enhancing sustainable development and equality.