Rula_Quawas

Jordanian social entrepreneur transforming disability rights through inclusive education and economic empowerment

Rula Quawas is a pioneering Jordanian lawyer and founder of Dar Al Insan, a leading organization advancing disability rights since 2005. A polio survivor herself, she faced systemic discrimination growing up in Amman. In 2014, she launched the 'Inclusive Education Initiative', training 3,000+ teachers to accommodate disabled students and establishing 50 inclusive schools by 2019. Her 2016 landmark case before the Jordanian Supreme Court secured legal protection for disabled students' right to education. Quawas co-created the 'Workability Program' which placed 1,200+ disabled individuals in corporate jobs by 2018 through partnerships with Microsoft Jordan and PepsiCo. She led the 2017 Jordan Disability Rights Law reform, increasing accessibility standards in public buildings from 5% to 40% compliance. Her TEDx talk 'Beyond Accessibility' has been translated into 15 languages. Quawas' 'Digital Empowerment Hub' provides free tech training for 2,000+ disabled Jordanians annually, with 60% securing employment. Recognized by the UN as 'Global Disability Champion' in 2019, her work inspired similar programs in Palestine and Lebanon. She collaborates with UNHCR on refugee disability inclusion and chairs the Arab Region Disability Forum. Her memoir 《Breaking Barriers: A Journey of Inclusion》 was translated into Arabic and English, becoming a required text in Jordan's teacher training programs.