Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD)

What Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) does

The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) is a Jordanian government statutory body established in 2007 under Law No. 31/2007 and reorganized under Law No. 20/2017, the first anti-discrimination law for persons with disabilities in the Arab world. It serves as Jordan's apex coordinating body for disability rights policy, coordinating all ministries and public institutions to embed disability rights in national strategies, plans, and programs across education, employment, political participation, and accessibility. Its portfolio includes core identification services (Disability Identification Card issued with the King Hussein Foundation's Family Healthcare Institute), accessibility services (Emergency Line 114 video-call service for deaf persons in partnership with Zain Telecom and the Public Security Directorate, Law in Sign Language translations, Braille and Sign Language school curricula), strategic initiatives (the 10-year Inclusive Education Strategy, the Accessible Buildings Award, the National Plan to Retrofit Existing Buildings 2019-2029, Accessible Tourism Program), and international advocacy (UN Committee membership, Global Disability Summit 2025 participation).

Its technical foundation consists of a WCAG 2.1 compliant institutional website with comprehensive accessibility tools (contrast modes, font size adjustment, keyboard navigation, reading guides, text spacing controls, screen reader support), digital content in Arabic Sign Language and Braille, and the video-call infrastructure for the 114 emergency service. The Council is chaired by Prince Murad bin Ra'd, with Dr. Mohannad Al-Azzah as Secretary-General, and operates from a single headquarters in Amman's Al-Shmaisani district with 35 employees. HCD has no commercial revenue model; it is funded through Jordanian government budgetary allocations and international partnerships, and provides services directly to citizens with disabilities at no charge. Its international standing is reinforced by the 2005 Roosevelt International Disability Award, the 2015 Zero Project Award for the Emergency Line 114, and continuous representation on the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through 2030.

Name

Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD)

Legal name

Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Website

https://hcd.gov.jo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) is Jordan's statutory apex body coordinating disability rights policy, issuing disability identification cards, operating the 114 emergency video-call service for deaf individuals, and enforcing accessibility compliance across government ministries and public infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Disability Rights Administration

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Technology & AAC for Young Children (EDACAFAL), Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) & Progress Monitoring Services (EDAKADAI), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Disability rights administration
• Government accessibility services
• Disability identification cards
• Sign language accessibility
• Inclusive education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Amman

HQ country

Jordan

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HCD is a Jordanian government statutory body that issues disability identification cards, certifies sign language interpreters, translates laws into Arabic Sign Language, produces Braille and Sign Language school curricula, and operates the Emergency Line 114 video-call service for deaf persons. It coordinates national disability rights policy across ministries, monitors compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, runs the Accessible Buildings Award and Inclusive Education Strategy, and represents Jordan internationally at the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Product overview

The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) is a Jordanian government organization operating a portfolio of services and programs for persons with disabilities. The offering consists of core identification and accessibility services (Identification Card, Emergency Line 114 for deaf persons, Law in Sign Language, school curricula for blind and deaf students), strategic initiatives (Inclusive Education Strategy, Accessible Buildings Award, Accessible Tourism Program), and informational resources (legislation, reports, guides, political participation materials). These services are provided through the hcd.gov.jo website and in cooperation with various government and civil society partners. The organization does not operate as a commercial product company but as a governmental body overseeing disability rights implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Identification Card for Persons with Disabilities A government-issued identification card issued by HCD in cooperation with the Jordanian Family Healthcare Institute (King Hussein Foundation) to certify disability status and facilitate access to services, rights, and benefits for persons with disabilities in Jordan.
• Emergency Line 114 (Video Call Service) Video call service launched in collaboration with the Command and Control Center of the Public Security Directorate and Zain Telecom, enabling deaf individuals to communicate directly with authorities using sign language without intermediaries or delays in emergency situations.
• School Curricula for Blind Students (Braille) Educational materials and curricula adapted for visually impaired and blind students in Braille format to ensure inclusive education access.
• School Curricula for Deaf Students (Sign Language) Educational materials adapted for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Sign Language format to support inclusive education.
• Law in Sign Language Legal documents, laws, and regulations translated into Arabic Sign Language to ensure access to legal information for deaf persons.
• Accessible Tourism Program A program promoting accessible tourism across Jordan, providing accessibility guides for hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and tourist sites including Petra, the Jordan Museum, the Citadel, Mount Nebo, and the Dead Sea Baptism Site.
• Accessible Buildings Award An annual award recognizing buildings and institutions in Jordan that demonstrate excellence in accessibility infrastructure and barrier-free design practices; 86 buildings participated in 2022 with 30 institutions awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze recognition.
• Sign Language Interpreter Certification A formal certification examination framework administered by HCD to certify sign language interpreters for professional deployment across government and public services.
• Political Participation Resources for Persons with Disabilities Educational materials, election guidelines, and awareness videos supporting political participation of persons with disabilities in Jordan.

Quantifiable outcome

• First anti-discrimination law for persons with disabilities in the Arab world (Law No. 20/2017)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCD coordinates with the Ministry of Education on the Decade Strategy for Inclusive Education (2020-2029), school curricula adaptation for blind students (Braille) and deaf students (Sign Language), and ensuring accessibility in educational institutions.
• Ministry of Social DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint launch of the National Strategy for Alternatives to Institutional Care for Persons with Disabilities in Jordan (2019), addressing deinstitutionalization and community-based care options.
• Public Security Directorate (Directorate of Driver and Vehicle Licensing)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Directorate participated in the Accessible Buildings Award and made modifications to its facilities to serve persons with disabilities, including physical accessibility features.
• Zain TelecomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Zain telecom and the Command and Control Center of the Public Security Directorate to launch the 114 video call service for deaf individuals, enabling direct emergency communication via sign language without intermediaries.
• Ministry of Public Works and HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint launch of the National Plan to Retrofit Existing Buildings and Public Facilities (2019-2029), establishing building accessibility standards and compliance requirements across Jordan.
• Family Healthcare Institute (King Hussein Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with the Family Healthcare Institute, one of the King Hussein Foundation institutes, to resume acceptance of applications for the disability identification card at Council facilities.
• National Plan Partners (Various Ministries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJordan's commitments at the Global Disability Summit 2025, covering accessibility projects, social protection, inclusive education, accessible tourism, and publications, with multiple government ministries as implementing partners.
• Union BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion Bank participated in the Accessible Buildings Award and made modifications to its Jubeiha branch to serve customers with disabilities, serving as the model for all bank branches.
• Telecommunications Regulatory CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Commission participated in the Accessible Buildings Award and made modifications to its headquarters building to serve persons with disabilities.
• Ministry of TransportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry participated in the Accessible Buildings Award and made modifications to its headquarters to serve persons with disabilities, including transport-related accessibility features.
• Greater Amman Municipality (Amanat Al-Asimah)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmanat Al-Asimah participated through its Taric Station building in the Accessible Buildings Award and made accessibility modifications to the Bus Rapid Transit station.
• King Abdullah II Culture CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe King Abdullah II Culture Center in Zarqa participated in the Accessible Buildings Award and made accessibility modifications to its cultural facility.
• Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ExpatriatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry, along with the Jordanian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, provided diplomatic support for Dr. Maher Al-Azzah's re-election campaign to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• National Jordanian Tourism PlatformsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCD partnered with national tourism entities to develop accessible tourism initiatives covering sites including the Citadel, Jordan Museum, Petra, Mount Nebo, and the Dead Sea Baptism Site, producing accessibility guides for hospitals, banks, hotels, and restaurants.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UK Equality and Human Rights Commission: UK's statutory national body enforcing equality and human rights legislation, including disability protections. Comparable to HCD as a national statutory rights body, though broader in scope and operating in a mature enforcement environment.
• US Office of Disability and Accessibility (formerly ODEP): US federal office promoting disability employment and accessibility policy. Comparable to HCD in policy-coordination mandate across government agencies, though operating at a larger federal scale with broader enforcement tools.

Others

• Zero Project: Austria-based international initiative recognizing innovative disability inclusion practices globally, including Jordan's Emergency Line 114 (2015 Zero Project Award). Comparable to HCD as a thematically connected peer in the global disability-innovation ecosystem, though operating as a network rather than a regulator.
• World Federation of the Deaf: International NGO representing deaf communities globally, including sign language rights advocacy. Comparable to HCD in the specific domain of sign language policy (HCD's Law in Sign Language and 114 emergency video call service align with WFD priorities).
• UN DESA Disability Team / UN Enable: UN's focal point on disability inclusion supporting implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Comparable to HCD as the international counterpart that engages HCD directly through Dr. Al-Azzah's UN Committee role.

Regional players

• Qatar Ministry of Social Development and Family (Disability Affairs): Qatar's government entity responsible for disability services and inclusion policy within the Qatari market. A regional peer with comparable statutory mandate and focus on accessibility standards, though serving a different national jurisdiction than HCD.
• Morocco - Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family (Disability Programs): Morocco's national ministry overseeing disability inclusion policy and programs within Morocco. A regional peer to HCD with similar North African/Arab regional context and statutory mandate over accessibility and disability rights.

Direct peers

• Saudi Arabia - Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (Disability Affairs): Saudi Arabia's national body responsible for disability affairs, formerly the Authority of People with Disability. Comparable to HCD in statutory role, cross-ministerial coordination mandate, and issuance of disability identification cards within the Kingdom.
• Egypt National Council for Disability Affairs: Egypt's national council coordinating disability rights policy, legislation, and accessibility implementation. Directly comparable to HCD in mandate, Arab-region context, and statutory authority over cross-ministerial disability inclusion efforts.
• UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (Persons with Disabilities portfolio): UAE's federal-level entity coordinating disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion policy. It is the closest regional peer to HCD given comparable national mandate, government statutory role, and focus on accessibility standards across public services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HCDJordan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGvu3VIqvXNZuHTm3dcAnuw
• Facebookfacebook.com/HCDJordan
• Instagraminstagram.com/hcdjordan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/higher-council-for-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-hcd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD)