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MOHAM: An NGO Pushing for Access for Disabled Iranians

March 29, 2021
6 min read
MOHAM – an acronym from the Persian – stands for Adaptation Support Institute for the Disabled and the Elderly
MOHAM – an acronym from the Persian – stands for Adaptation Support Institute for the Disabled and the Elderly
The charity strives to improve the quality of life for disabled people all over Iran by improving urban and residential spaces
The charity strives to improve the quality of life for disabled people all over Iran by improving urban and residential spaces
It has struggled to get the attention of urban planners, but works to change people's lives in small ways, such as by enlarging doors or installing lifts
It has struggled to get the attention of urban planners, but works to change people's lives in small ways, such as by enlarging doors or installing lifts

They have been held up, time after time. Their wheelchairs get stuck in narrow alleyways, they can’t get to the bank because the accessible routes are closed, their white canes keep striking potholes, and they acutely understand the pain of the lack of facilities for the disabled. They decided to join hands and set up the MOHAM institute. 

MOHAM – an acronym from the Persian – stands for Adaptation Support Institute for the Disabled and the Elderly. Its chairman and many of the members are disabled. They are striving to improve the quality of life for disabled people all over Iran by improving urban and residential spaces, but hampered by a lack of proactive support from the government.

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The MOHAM institute’s Instagram page is full of photos of places that are unsuitable for the disabled. It has designed red stickers bearing an image of a person in a wheelchair and the words "This path is not suitable for me", together with a "Sorry" sticker, to draw public attention to the problem in various parts of Iran.

MOHAM is a non-governmental organization established just under half a decade ago to address the problem of inaccessibility in Iran. "MOHAM,” said one member, “means supporter in Persian and lawyer in Arabic, and we support ourselves with MOHAM.

"In our country the authorities have not provided any facilities for the disabled and the elderly. It’s visible everywhere, from the lack of ramps at bus and subway stations to the absence of dropped kerbs. 

“One of our childhood friends was injected with the wrong medication and lost mobility in both legs. He is a professor of literature and has a very lovable personality. His biggest problem is moving around the university and commuting. He always talked about it with sorrow, until four years ago, when we decided to establish an institution to provide a more comfortable life for the disabled and the elderly. 

“We believed in our goal so much, we imagined a time when the improvement of urban roads for the elderly and disabled would become the sole responsibility of the institute. But the bureaucracy and the fact that all these services depend on the government turned our dreams into a nightmare."

The activist takes a deep breath. "In short,” he admits, “everything we did we hit a closed door. We couldn’t get financial support from anywhere except individual donors. But we aren’t tired out yet, and we will continue."

Though MOHAM has not been able to bring about the infrastructure overhaul it wanted, the NGO offers a range of small services that can make a huge difference to individuals’ lives. These include home improvements, such as widening a doorframe for free so that a wheelchair can pass through it without difficulty. “Enlarging the door may not seem like a big deal,” the volunteer says, “but it can be out of reach for families who aren’t well-off and who have a sick person to cater for. We at MOHAM support them by doing these small things for them."

The institute also works to provide lifts for families who only have stairs in their homes. “A person in a wheelchair has no way to get upstairs themselves,” the volunteer says, “and has to ask others for help. We know how much they suffer because of this. We try to alleviate the awkwardness and help make the person independent, so that they don’t feel like a burden on their family and friends.”

Streets are an Obstacle Course

Educational and recreational facilities for people with disabilities are overlooked in many urban environments, government offices and residential buildings in Iran. Another of MOHAM’s members has first-hand experience of this. “On Baharestan Street [in Tehran],” he says, “right in front of the school for the blind, the sidewalks and pavements have been paved so that these people can move about easily. But motorcycles park or ride on the same sidewalk. So sometimes, there still isn’t even the room for a blind person to move."

One of his tasks on behalf of MOHAM is to regularly visit this street and warn motorcyclists off parking on the pavement. "In our society,” he says, “these issues aren’t [recognized] in the culture. We have to roll up our sleeves and explain the situation to people."

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak in Iran, MOHAM held a meeting every two months for donors, companions and people who wanted to learn more about the situation of the disabled in Iran. They would generally discuss the various cases referred to them, recent examples of work carried out, and any areas in which volunteers needed help.

"The events were very informative in terms of how to help the disabled and elderly,” one former participant tells IranWire. “They described the situations of people who needed help. People who had already received help, and whose quality of life had changed as a result, spoke to the audience to encourage more people to get involved."

MOHAM also collaborates with other charities for the disabled and the elderly in Iran, holding workshops in different cities to inform people about different types of disabilities and how to interact with and support disabled people appropriately. "While there is no public body for this sort of training provided by the government,” the attendee said, “private and non-governmental organizations such as MOHAM have to step up.”

During the pandemic, while it has not been possible to convene a meeting, people in urgent need of support from MOHAM have been permitted to issue appeals via the charity’s Telegram channel.

ATMs Too High Up

Jamshid is a painter who lost the use of his legs in an accident two years ago, and has since been supported by MOHAM.

"What can I say?” he told IranWire. “That incident was the worst event of my life. I lost my son in the accident and became very depressed. I didn’t leave the house for a year and gained 25 kilos. With the help of a counsellor and a psychologist, I have been trying to get back to normal for about six months now, and I go to the studio every day. 

“We also renovated the house; we installed a large elevator to accommodate my wheelchair and enlarged the bathroom, and also removed the two steps we had at the entrance. Thank God, my new situation is much more bearable. But I'm afraid my depression will return because of our strange urban environment. The municipality has carried out urban planning in Tehran as though there are no disabled or elderly people in this city. Are we the only disabled ones? Officials don’t have a disabled person in their family?"

He frowns and falls silent, then continues: "Yesterday I wanted to withdraw money from an ATM because I needed cash. There are more than 10 ATMs on my route, all of which are much higher than the wheelchairs.  I sat there shivering in the cold for 45 minutes and looked at masked people to see who might be the right person to give my card to, and tell them my PIN, so they could take the money out for me. Dear Mr. Urban Planner! Did you ever think about how I and others like me are supposed to live?"

This article was written by a citizen journalist in Tehran under a pseudonym.

Related coverage:

The Government Shuts Down NGOs but Admits Its Failure to Help the Poor

Rouhani’s Government Shuts Down Charity Supporting Vulnerable Children

Coronavirus Leaves Small Charities Exposed in Iran

The Relief Organization that has Angered the Revolutionary Guards

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