Assessing awareness and perceived enforcement of disability legislation in Jordan: A sociological perspective

Abstract

Disability legislation is a substantial factor that contributes to secure the individuals’ rights with disabilities.  Recently, there has been a great interest in the awareness and enforcement of the legislation. This study assesses the awareness and enforcement of disability legislation from the perspectives of parents and carers of students with disabilities in Jordan. A descriptive quantitative approach was employed. A six- dimension questionnaire was developed based on the literature and disability legislative texts. These dimensions consisted of fourteen items that measure participants’ awareness and perceptions of numerous aspects of the legislation. The self-administered questionnaire was completed by 319 participants who were selected according to the purposive sampling technique. Statistical analysis revealed that parents and carers perception of disability legislation in Jordan is generally positive although they have a moderate level of awareness of this legislation. The participants perceived that the enforcement of disability law in Jordan is moderate, specifically concerning their children rights in education and healthcare. Male and female participants had similar perceptions while more educated participants had more positive perceptions of the legislation.  The results call for reviewing the national laws to ensure optimal enforcement in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.