Strategic Objectives

Over the past 42 years, the Arab Association for Persons with Disabilities has undergone many stages and developments. In its early years, the Association operated from a social-medical perspective, providing care and services for persons with disabilities (then referred to as 'the disabled,' which was the commonly used term at the time). This approach continued for many years until the mid-2000s, when the Association gradually and organically shifted toward a rights-based approach, focusing on raising awareness among persons with disabilities about the laws that protect them and the importance of claiming their rights.

This shift was affirmed by the Association’s strategic plan, approved at the beginning of 2020 under the title 'Resilience and Rights,' which emphasized the empowerment of persons with disabilities across various fields, enabling them to become active, productive, and influential members of their communities.

The practical implementation of this approach—through the projects and initiatives carried out by the Association over the past four years—has demonstrated that empowering, training, and raising awareness within the East Jerusalem community about disability issues is just as important as empowering persons with disabilities themselves.

"The 2023 review sessions of the Arab Association’s strategic plan reaffirmed the importance of reaching persons with disabilities in marginalized areas of East Jerusalem. They also highlighted the need to focus on sports and cultural activities, strengthen partnerships with Jerusalem-based civil society organizations, and expand community awareness initiatives. The review emphasized adopting the 'inclusive approach,' which seeks to raise public awareness of the abilities of persons with disabilities by implementing inclusive activities—bringing together persons with and without disabilities—to promote their participation in social life and reinforce their resilience and Jerusalemite identity.

Strategic Objectives