Dr. Rawan AlHeresh, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Jordan, has been honored by Times Higher Education for her nomination among the top eight initiatives for Outstanding Contribution to Regional Development in the Arab World for 2024. This recognition highlights her leadership in the program “Toward an All-Inclusive Jordan,” which promotes the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Jordan.
Since 2018, Dr. AlHeresh has led the program as a model for academic-community partnerships, providing education, clinical training, and support for over 1,500 families across Jordan. The program is based on the Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approach to empower individuals and address the lack of rehabilitation services in underserved areas.
Dr. AlHeresh emphasized that the recognition reflects the vital role of academic-community collaborations in addressing societal challenges and building inclusive solutions for sustainable development.