A joint report by Hanan Hamdan and Safaa Ayad
A significant number of people with disabilities in Lebanon currently face immense difficulties that prevent them from acquiring the digital tools needed to navigate the digital age. This exacerbates their struggle, as they already find it hard to secure basic life necessities in a country grappling with successive economic and social crises.
While there are no official published statistics on the number of people with disabilities in Lebanon, it is estimated that they constitute 10 to 15 percent of the population. According to figures from local associations serving this community, the number of individuals who hold a disability card from the Ministry of Social Affairs is between 150,000 and 200,000.
A Quantum Leap
Initially, many people with disabilities found that the technological and digital revolution opened doors, simplifying daily life, communication, and work. This was particularly true for blind individuals; an estimated 7 percent of people in Lebanon have a visual impairment. Announcer and correspondent Sami Jalloul shares his experience, comparing life before and after gaining access to digital tools. “We’ve moved from the isolation of the pre-technology era into the digital world of AI, now that the globe is interconnected,” he tells ‘Silat Wassel’
Jalloul, a father who recently completed his PhD in History from the Lebanese University, outlines the challenges he faces in the digital age: “The inaccessibility of some websites, the incompatibility of certain apps with VoiceOver technology, the high cost of specialized devices for the blind that connect to phones and laptops, and the expense of paid book-reading applications.”
The number of people holding a disability card from the Ministry of Social Affairs ranges from 150,000 to 200,000.
He says, “I own a phone and a computer, which allow me to communicate, complete my work tasks—like writing and proofreading reports, conducting online research on my own, and easily hosting radio shows.” However, he also notes that having access to additional, often expensive, digital tools would make his life much easier, citing paid PDF book-reading apps as an example.
Therefore, Jalloul argues that “the premise that technology marginalizes people with disabilities is inaccurate, at least when it comes to communication on social media and websites. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”
Somewhat Marginalized
Nasser Balout, 32, agrees with Jalloul that the digital age has made his life easier as a blind individual. Also working in the media, he concurs that all the available tools have simplified life for people with visual impairments.
He tells ‘Silat Wassel,’ “Assistive software for the blind is readily available on smartphones, such as VoiceOver on iPhones, audio description for detailed image descriptions, the free Talkback screen reader on Android, and computer screen readers. However, we sometimes need to download paid applications that are beyond many people’s means. In fact, some cannot even afford the basic hardware, like smartphones.”
It’s worth noting that Law 220/2000 legally requires the Lebanese state to provide these tools as part of the right to access information. However, Balout confirms that the law is not being implemented.
But what if these tools were available to them for free? Balout, a board member at the Youth Association for the Blind, explains: “People would be more connected with others and more active on social media. These tools would enable them to apply for jobs advertised on LinkedIn and the Daleel Madani page, opening up numerous opportunities, including the ability to conduct research and work online.” He concludes, “Despite all these assistive apps, we still feel isolated and marginalized by the owners and designers of certain websites, as well as by advertisers.”
A Double Struggle
Hadi Zeina, a 24-year-old from the southern Lebanese town of Sarafand, is one such individual. He currently faces numerous challenges, some related to digital rights and others to his life with a motor disability. He tells ‘Sila Wasl’ his struggle is “doubled” because he was born with a motor disability that allows him to move only one of his hands.
He tells us more about himself: “I have a disability in my right hand. I was born in the South to a family of eight, and my father is blind.” He continues, “I finished school, then cycled through several university majors, including fashion design and accounting, but I didn’t complete any of them. My disability prevents me from pursuing these professions because they require computer skills. I almost lost hope, but I’m still looking for an opportunity that’s right for me.”
Feeling Helpless
For years, Zeina has felt helpless and unable to keep up with digital advancements and online job opportunities. A short while ago, he underwent a three-month training program with the Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities (LUPD), where he learned to make homemade products.
“I worked once at a potato chip factory but left for personal reasons,” says Zeina. “I then searched for an opportunity that was both suitable for my condition and manageable, but I haven’t been successful yet, which is regrettable.”
I moved between several university majors, including fashion design and accounting.
I didn't complete any of them, because my disability prevents me from pursuing such professions
Zeina is therefore currently seeking funding for a project he hopes to launch, one that would allow him to be self-reliant and earn a steady income for a dignified life. He concludes, “The cost isn’t high—around a thousand dollars—but I don’t have it at the moment. I’m thinking of opening a small shop near my home.”
Successive Crises
Like Zeina, many individuals with disabilities cannot access the internet, let alone seize digital opportunities, for several reasons: the harsh living conditions in Lebanon and the high cost of such digital tools.
Since 2019, the majority of Lebanese have been reeling from the worst economic and monetary crisis in the nation’s modern history, compounded by the Beirut port explosion and the recent war with Israel. With Israeli strikes continuing on a near-daily basis in the South, these cumulative crises have made it extremely difficult for citizens, especially vulnerable groups, to secure basic necessities like food, water, housing, employment, healthcare, and education.
Abir Bitar, a mother of five who has lived with a motor disability for over 28 years, tells ‘Silat Wassel,’ “The difficulties we face are countless.” She adds, “We are denied our rights in all aspects of life, so what hope do we have for our digital rights?”
She elaborates on her struggle: “As a homemaker, I wish I could find a job online. Although I’m active on social media and love to be socially engaged, there are many barriers. I once had an athletic experience as a woman of strong will, and that was the dearest to my heart.” She adds that she wishes schools had awareness programs to teach children how to interact with people with disabilities.
“Okaza”
Because people with disabilities are largely absent from media representation, the ‘Okaza’ platform was founded. It is a space dedicated to people with disabilities, aiming to shed light on their specific issues. “Disability is often portrayed negatively, and we are trying to correct these misconceptions,” says the platform’s founder, Ahmad Al-Ashqar. He adds to ‘Silat Wassel,’ “We provide them with the tools and means to express themselves, and we are reframing the narrative in a way that respects their rights above all,” hoping to change perceptions and create digital awareness and genuine advocacy amid the prevailing chaos.
‘Okaza’ seeks to break down barriers between people with disabilities and their communities, pushing for this issue to be treated as a matter of public concern. Al-Ashqar notes that the worst challenge these individuals often face is marginalization from their own families, who may not believe in their children’s capabilities.
There is a negative portrayal of disability, and we are trying to correct these misconceptions
Through Okaza’s ongoing work with people with disabilities, Al-Ashqar found that the fundamental problem is a lack of access, as blind and deaf individuals, along with those who have motor disabilities or paralysis, cannot use many common applications and websites.
For example, applications used by the blind often lack image descriptions, button navigation, and site browsing capabilities.” He notes that internet package prices are extremely high in Lebanon and neighboring countries, and that the cost of some paid applications is prohibitive for individuals who lack the financial means. Al-Ashqar also laments that sign language is still absent from news broadcasts or instructions issued during crises.
In this context, the platform is trying to conduct digital awareness campaigns targeting companies that own websites, stressing the need to make their sites accessible for people with disabilities to read text, and to add small tools like changing colors, enlarging fonts, and adjusting screen sizes. It also ran a campaign to educate deaf women against electronic harassment and blackmail, as they are more vulnerable to privacy breaches and having their photos stolen. It’s worth noting that the struggles of people with disabilities become more pronounced during wars and conflicts due to a lack of information.
Not an Easy Matter
Digital expert Abd Kataya believes that “digital rights are the same as human rights, but in the digital environment,” as the two cannot be separated. They include freedom of access to information and the internet, and the right to digital learning, and aim to protect individuals and ensure they enjoy the full benefits of digital technology.
Through his work at ‘SMEX,’ a non-profit organization that defends human rights in the digital world, Kataya has observed many thorny issues, especially concerning people with disabilities. For example, Kataya touches on the issue of websites, the majority of which are not equipped for this group of people. They are “unreadable for people with disabilities who have vision difficulties and are also not equipped with audio recordings for blind individuals.”
Kataya attributes the lack of such requirements to the somewhat high cost, which falls on private companies and even associations. As for official websites, “it’s a whole other story.” In contrast, however, he tells ‘Silat Wassel’ that technology “has made life easier for people with disabilities, such as working from home without significant physical effort,” something we are seeing more of in workplaces in Lebanon and abroad.
The majority of websites are not equipped for this group of people; they are 'unreadable for people with disabilities who have vision difficulties.'
Regarding providing digital solutions for people with disabilities, Kataya says: “It’s not an easy matter, as the cost is somewhat high. But a national strategy must be put in place in this regard, obliging private institutions that make large profits to integrate people with disabilities. A nationwide plan must also be developed and implemented. It is also important to conduct official statistics, surveys, and studies to know their numbers, their needs for tools, their specializations, how to integrate them into the labor market, and the platforms they need. Based on that, appropriate action can be taken.”
As for the tools, “they start with the cell phone and don’t stop at a certain limit.” The phone and its available applications have made life a little easier for people with disabilities, but in Kataya’s opinion, the issue still lacks “the state, companies, and society preparing the groundwork for this access, in terms of providing additional tools, securing internet access, and other matters.”
The Ministry Strives, But…!
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, “As we enter the age of technology and artificial intelligence, it has become necessary for applications and digital systems to be inclusive of everyone. Access to the internet and digital technology is no longer an option, but a basic human right and a condition for full integration into society, especially for people with disabilities, as it is an essential gateway to education, work, participation in public life, and access to information and services.”
The Ministry of Social Affairs had launched the “Internet for All” initiative in partnership with the company IDM, to provide internet services at a low cost to people with disabilities, in addition to preparing for legislative reforms that strengthen digital rights. It is now updating and developing the ministry’s website so that everyone can access information related to the ministry and its programs to ensure the right of access to information and transparency.
According to the Ministry, there is a need for “an integrated national plan for inclusive digital access that includes legislative reforms, experts in assistive technology, partnerships with the private sector, and dedicated funding to ensure the effective mainstreaming of solutions.”
Regarding the extent of this group’s marginalization in the digital world, the Ministry states: “There is digital marginalization that affects people with disabilities. As we enter the age of artificial intelligence, our responsibility becomes greater to ensure that systems and applications are inclusive, so that the digital divide does not widen further.”
On the other hand, there are advanced assistive applications and technologies that can help enhance the independence of people with disabilities, such as screen reader programs and real-time sign language translation. These are opportunities that must be invested in and made widely available.
