Amman - Post Report Question and Answers

Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?

Yes, for sure. Sidewalks are awful, if they exist and all and people do not yield or watch out for others. - Aug 2023


Yes, this would be almost impossible. You can’t use sidewalks; streets are uneven and full of holes. - Aug 2023


Absolutely. The sidewalks are not for people, they are for trees. - Jul 2023


It's very hilly, some streets are very steep. There are sidewalk, but some are very narrow, or have a tree right in the middle. - Mar 2023


It would be next to impossible for someone in a wheel chair to get around in Jordan. There are very few sidewalks and ramps and the ones that are here, are broken up. There are very high curbs and very aggressive drivers. - Jul 2022


It depends on the disability. In general, Jordanians are supportive of those with disabilities, but the infrastructure is not very disability-friendly. There are elevators and ramps at the hotels and major establishments, and even the local schools. But getting around the city itself might be a challenge for certain disabilities. - Oct 2021


Yes. - Apr 2021


There are no sidewalks, those they have are uneven, high curbs, poorly planned, people grow trees in them, the list goes on. - Feb 2021


I think so. Handicapped spaces are designated at larger malls and stores, but they are reserved for special people who are running late. Sidewalks are erratic, and often there are steps up to a ramp... - Jan 2021


It would be very difficult. Not handicap friendly or stroller friendly at all. - Dec 2020


Yes. The city planning is poor with minimal sidewalks. - Sep 2020


Yes. Little to no accommodation outside of the embassy. - Sep 2018


It would be pretty hard, but there are staff at the embassy who use wheelchairs. I think the embassy has tried to be accommodating, but I wouldn't say that this is city-wide. - Sep 2018


Yes, sidewalks and building access is often blocked and not well designed. - Mar 2017


Yes. There are some sidewalks but they stop suddenly or have landscaping plopped in the middle. - Mar 2016


Yes--this city is not ADA friendly. - Mar 2016


Not a lot of access. It is rare to see a sidewalk and when you do, there is a tree planted right in the middle of it with the branches taking up the whole sidewalk. - Nov 2015


The sidewalks in Amman are terrible. When there are sidewalks, most are impassable because of large trees and bushes planted in the middle of them. Many of the sidewalks are crumbling and poorly maintained. - May 2015


Yes - uneven, broken, and garbage-covered sidewalks that usually have dumpsters and cars parked on them. Elevators are common but there are usually at least a few steps leading to them. - Mar 2015


Yes. When sidewalks are present, they are uneven and planted with trees, with curbs that are often a foot high with no ramp access to the street. When I say uneven, I mean that it's common for each home/storefront to have designed their own sidewalk space with no discussion with the neighbors, so they don't match, much less meet evenly. Elevators in building, from apartment buildings to medical buildings are often designed for 3-4 normal-sized people. - Jul 2014


Yes, though amazingly people seem to do it. There are no real continuous sidewalks, and they all are about 8 inches from the road, so treacherous for the disabled. I think you'd just have to go everywhere in a vehicle if you were disabled. - Mar 2014


We have a family member with physical disabilities, and we do just fine in the parking garages, supermarkets and malls. It really isn't the kind of place where you want to take long walks down the street, so it doesn't bother us that the sidewalks are uneven and full of obstacles. Our apartment is one-level, and we are fortunate enough to have an accessible patio area and elevator to the parking garage. Our habits are to stay home quite a bit, and living with disabilties day to day, I suppose we've grown accustomed to figuring out solutions for getting around with a wheelchair, much like someone with a baby gets around with a stroller. In some places it doesn't work out too well; in other places you're just fine. It's not perfect but not terrible, either. - Dec 2013


The physical infrastructure is not at all accommodating to those with physical disabilities. - Aug 2013


Like much of the developing world, the concept of accessibility doesn't really exist here. - Jul 2013


A lot. That said, we do have some disabled people at the embassy, and the embassy and ACS are continually making improvements to make those places more accessible. But the rest of Jordan is not. - May 2013


There are no sidewalks but that being said, I think it is doable. - Mar 2013


Lots. There are very few passable sidewalks. For some reason, the Jordanians plant trees right in the middle of their sidewalks. You can use a stroller at the Embassy or at the mall, but nowhere else around town. - Apr 2012


Even able-bodied people have problems getting around. It is avery hilly city, the sidewalks are not well maintained and inexplicably have trees/shrubs/etc planted in the middle of them most often which makes them generally unusable and forces many people to walk in the (already unsafe) roads. I think anyone with physical difficulties would find this a very challenging place to live. - Mar 2012


Significant. There is very little accommodation for people with physical disabilities. - Mar 2012


Sidewalk pavement is very uneven. It is difficult to navigate a stroller. A wheelchair would be the same. - Oct 2011


Forget about finding ramps or facilities for the disabled. - Aug 2011


I don't recall seeing ANY wheelchair ramps, etc. It is certainly not accommodating in that regard, so I think someone with physical disabilities may have some problems - Aug 2011


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