Amman, June 21 (Petra) - Under the patronage of Prince Mired bin Raad, Chief Chamberlain and President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), the council launched the Inclusive Art and Music Therapy Program on Sunday.

The ceremony was attended by several ambassadors, representatives of international donor agencies, advocates for persons with disabilities, national partner institutions, and cultural and rehabilitation experts.

The initiative is part of a national strategy to secure the right of persons with disabilities to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and to develop innovative rehabilitation services. The program is supported by the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation through strategic partnerships connecting HCD with the King Hussein Foundation’s National Music Conservatory and the Haya Cultural Center.

The program functions as an integrated national platform that combines art as a tool for expression and social inclusion with music therapy as a modern rehabilitation practice. Following international best practices, the initiative aims to enhance communication, motor skills, and sensory regulation for persons with disabilities.

Hana Shahin, Executive Director of the King Hussein Foundation, said music therapy is an internationally accredited clinical discipline that uses rhythm, melody, sound, and movement within structured professional interventions led by qualified specialists to achieve specific therapeutic and rehabilitative goals. She added that this form of therapy has proven highly effective in improving cognitive capacities and emotional regulation.

Valentina Kassisieh, CEO of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, said the initiative bridges cultural development with human rights and rehabilitation, creating new avenues for persons with disabilities to express themselves, develop skills, and actively participate in public life. She noted that true inclusion requires collaborative efforts across cultural, educational, and rehabilitative institutions to build an equitable society.

Reem Al-Adwan, Director General of the Haya Cultural Center, said the partnership with HCD has strengthened inclusive practices within cultural programming by training personnel, modifying artistic spaces, and adapting content to ensure accessibility. She added that the center is working with HCD to draft a national framework for inclusive art policies and comprehensive protection strategies in Jordan, alongside providing 30 inclusive artistic grants in music, arts, and drama for children and young adults.

Muhannad Al-Azzeh, Secretary General of HCD, said the initiative marks a significant step toward embedding creative therapies into Jordan’s formal rehabilitation framework and building the capacity of national professionals using evidence-based scientific methods.

Al-Azzeh added that the program extends beyond standard cultural activities by establishing music therapy as a tool to improve the quality of counseling, psychological support, and specialized care through advanced and innovative creative methodologies.

The program's upcoming agenda will feature inclusive musical performances bringing together artists with and without disabilities, art exhibitions showcasing the work of talent from the disabled community, and the production of documentary materials to highlight success stories and raise public awareness.

//Petra// AF