Irbid, July 8 (Petra) – Social Development Ministyer Wafaa Bani Mustafa on Wednesday inaugurated an early intervention and disability detection unit in Bani Kinanah district in the Irbid Governorate.

The unit, which assesses infants and toddlers for developmental delays and designs customized support plans to maximize their potential, is part of the government's efforts to expand inclusive services for people with disabilities across Jordan.

The establishment of the unit aligns with the national trend towards adopting alternative residential care as an advanced and effective model that invests in the potential of people with disabilities, enabling their effective integration into their families and communities, said the minister.

It reflects the Royal directives to provide the disabled with the best possible care and protection within a comprehensive service system, and is among the government's social sector priorities, she pointed out.

Mustafa said the unit's establishment is in response to the northern district needs and as a continuation of the government's efforts to create more early intervention units countrywide.

The unit will offer early detection services for disabilities, focusing on awareness, prevention, and rehabilitation programs starting in early childhood years to mitigate the effects of disability in later stages of life, she said.

Its services will cover children with disabilities from birth to six years old, offering special education programs, speech therapy, occupational and physical therapy, family counseling, life skills, rehabilitation, and training, she pointed out.

The minister directed that services be offered to children with disabilities up to the age of nine, adding that the unit is equipped to accommodate 60 children with disabilities, in addition to providing community-based rehabilitation services for 20 individuals by a specialized staff.

//Petra//SS