Jerusalem Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children

A 2011 PCBS (Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics) of survey on individuals with disabilities in Palestine highlighted that the average percentage of disabled individuals in the Palestinian community reached 2.7% (2.9% males, and 2.5% females) according to a narrow definition of disability, while this percentage reaches 7% when applying an expanded definition of disability. The highest rate of disability was found in the district of Jenin (4.1%), followed by Hebron district (3.6%) and Jerusalem district (1.4%). The report also indicates that the highest disability rate was in mobility (48.5%), followed by slow learning (24.7%). Princess Basma Centre also conducted a Situation Analysis Study in 2013 on the conditions and prevalence of children with disabilities in Palestine, with the following objectives: – To describes the socio-economic, cultural and legal framework for children with disabilities. – To assess the extent to which the rights to education, health, and protection of children with disabilities are being realized. – To contribute to the work of Princess Basma Centre by providing recommendations. – More broadly, the report is also intended to give recommendations to the wider public and decision makers. The situation analysis states prevalence of persons with disabilities in Palestine as follow: – 6.9 percent of the population lives with some type of disability. – 2.7 percent with severe disability. The prevalence rate of severe disability was found to be slightly higher in the West Bank (2.9 percent) than in Gaza (2.4 percent). – 3.7 percent of children were found to be living with some type of disability. – 1.5 percent of children were found to be living with severe disabilities. The prevalence is slightly higher boys than girls, at 1.8 and 1.3 percent respectively. – Based on the survey findings, PCBS revealed that for mid-2012, the total number of children with severe disabilities can be estimated at 30,630 children. Qalqilya (3.0 percent) and Hebron (2.3 percent) have the highest child disability prevalence rate. No explanation has been found on reasons behind higher prevalence rates in the two West Bank governorates. Maybe stigma and shame caused under-reporting. Yet, despite the high prevalence of disability in Palestine and the regulations and law within the Palestinian system, yet persons with disabilities; especially children, remain to be one of the most marginalized groups in Palestine, they continue to be isolated in their communities with limited access to health care services and education, which is exactly what is being provided at PBC from and an inclusive approach which concentrates on rehabilitation and education.