05-05-2025
The changing landscape of disability in Oman
Two years ago, the Ministry of Social Development organised the first national symposium dedicated to people with disabilities - a landmark event signalling a shift in how disability is viewed and addressed in the Sultanate of Oman. I was honoured to participate in that gathering, where heartfelt stories, pressing concerns and bold visions for the future were shared. Today, I build on that experience by asking a simple but profound question: Has it become better for people with disabilities in Oman?
This question anchors a new research project I am preparing to submit to Discourse and Society, a leading academic journal with a special issue exploring global disability experiences. My study uses socio-linguistic interviews to investigate the lived realities of Omanis with disabilities across the country. It goes beyond policies and proclamations, and instead listens carefully to how people speak about their lives - how they describe themselves, how they express resistance or hope and how their words reflect wider cultural attitudes.
Oman has taken commendable steps in the direction of inclusion. We have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and introduced policies designed to increase accessibility and social participation. And yet, policy is only one part of the picture. The heart of inclusion lies in everyday interactions: in whether someone can access education without being pitied, find work without being underestimated, or enter public spaces without navigating physical and social barriers.
Through in-depth interviews with individuals from across the country - people with physical, visual and hearing disabilities, of different genders, ages,and socioeconomic backgrounds - I have begun to piece together a nuanced portrait of disability in Oman today. These stories reveal a mixed reality.
In urban areas, there is growing awareness and better access to services. Several participants shared their joy at seeing ramps in government buildings, being invited to public forums, or connecting with peers through social media. Some felt empowered by the growing visibility of disability in national conversations. However, others - especially in rural regions - shared stories of exclusion, outdated attitudes and tokenistic gestures that do not reflect real change.
Oman has taken commendable steps in the direction of inclusion.
One young woman recounted how her community still viewed her disability as a punishment or shameful secret. Another participant, a visually impaired man in Muscat, described the challenges of applying for jobs where employers assumed he would be a liability. Such narratives remind us that even when laws exist, social transformation is often slow, uneven and deeply cultural.
Language plays a powerful role in shaping these experiences. How people talk about themselves and how others talk about them matters. In my research, I analyse not just what participants say, but how they say it: the metaphors they use, the emotional tones they adopt, the silences they leave. For example, some participants describe their lives as a 'journey through fog", or refer to inclusion efforts as 'doors with no handles.' These expressions give us insight into emotional and structural realities that numbers and policies often miss.
What stands out, however, is a generational shift. Younger participants, especially those who use digital platforms, are actively challenging old narratives. They are forming communities, documenting their daily lives and calling out injustices. Through Instagram posts, X (formerly Twitter) threads and TikTok videos, they are reshaping how Omanis think about ability, dignity and participation. This is a promising sign.
It is clear that progress has been made - but so has the realisation that true inclusion must come not only from above, through law, but from within: through cultural understanding, everyday empathy and the amplification of disabled voices. Oman stands at a crossroads. We can either continue to treat disability as a charitable cause, or we can recognise it as a matter of human rights, agency and full citizenship.
It is time to listen - not just politely, but deeply. And more importantly, it is time to act.
