Rabat – A stark new warning from the National Union of Associations Working in the Field of Intellectual Disabilities (UNAHM) shows a growing frustration with Morocco’s new disability card.
The Moroccan union recently published a statement commenting on the card, in which they wrote: “Without guaranteed concrete benefits, this card risks being nothing more than a piece of paper with no real impact on the daily lives of disabled people.”
As a result, critics argue that the initiative offers administrative acknowledgment but no tangible improvements for people with disabilities.
In many countries, similar disability recognition systems grant automatic rights to essential services.
In Morocco, the new card is intended to provide official recognition and improve access to essential services such as specialized healthcare, financial exemptions, and employment support. However, the union argues that the decree governing it lacks clear provisions to guarantee these benefits.
As a result, the card does not ensure priority medical care, fee exemptions for critical services like transportation and assistive equipment, or structured employment programs for disabled individuals.
For families already struggling with the high costs of care, the absence of these measures is a major concern.
The union also pointed out the financial crisis facing specialized disability centers, which rely on public subsidies to function.
This year, the usual funding — previously managed by the Ministry of Social Development and later by the Social Cohesion Fund — has not been allocated, pushing many centers toward closure.
The funding gap threatens not only the services provided to thousands of disabled individuals but also the jobs of educators, therapists, psychologists, and social workers who support them.
Beyond the lack of concrete benefits, the process for obtaining the disability card itself remains unclear.
The decree calls for the creation of regional commissions to assess applicants, but the criteria for evaluation is not specified.
This raises concerns about inconsistent decision-making and a lack of recourse for those who may be unfairly denied recognition.
Meanwhile, as the 2025 school year approaches, families remain in the dark regarding the future of integrated classrooms and specialized centers.
With no confirmation of funding for these programs, many worry that vital educational support for children with disabilities may be at risk.
In response to these shortcomings, disability rights organizations are calling on the government to take immediate action to transform the card into a true instrument of social and economic inclusion.
The union’s key demands include:
- Automatic entitlement to benefits, including specialized healthcare, transport assistance, and access to adaptive equipment
- Immediate release of promised subsidies to prevent specialized centers from closing-Stable, long-term funding through Morocco’s national healthcare and social security system
- Transparent evaluation criteria, along with a clear appeals process for rejected applicants
- A dedicated government body to coordinate and oversee disability-related policies
The union has formally requested an official government response, stressing that the livelihoods of thousands of disabled individuals — and the professionals who support them — are at stake.
Without urgent reforms, Morocco’s disability card risks being little more than a symbolic gesture, offering recognition without real rights.
