1964
The “Holy Land Institute for the Deaf” is founded as a small school for the deaf on the site of a former missionary hospital in Salt, Jordan. The institute is run by Brother Andeweg, a Dutch priest who is a member of the Arab Episcopal Church. The institute starts with 32 children and four teachers. There are a few classrooms, a boarding school for boys and one for girls and rooms for handicraft activities. Among the subjects taught are sign language, lip-reading, mathematics, Arabic and practical subjects such as shoe repair and basket weaving. The opening of the institute takes place in the presence of King Hussein.
1967
The school can only accept a small number of children at the institute because there is not enough accommodation. Old buildings are purchased to expand the boarding school and accommodate more students.
1977
The HLID is threatened with closure and Brother Andrew, who previously worked in Lebanon, comes to Salt as director and succeeds Brother Andeweg.
1980
School education alone is not enough. It is necessary for the students to develop practical skills so that they can later pursue a profession. With the help of Joshua Grossenbacher, who has lived in Salt with his family since 1978, vocational training is being set up.
1982
The audiology department HEAR starts a hearing aid laboratory with Brother Suheil. This is the first step towards carrying out hearing measurements and supplying hearing aids for the local population. For this purpose, ear molds are manufactured locally. This year, the field service will also be set up to help disabled children throughout Jordan.
1986
The need for good teaching materials, curricula and teachers is increasing. Therefore, the S.T.R.I.D.E. department is launched under the leadership of Samir Debabneh. The department develops curricula for teaching sign language and materials on Arabic deaf culture, as well as training programs for interpreters.
1996
The renovation of the “Old Hospital” - the old hospital in the center of Salt - begins. The S.T.R.I.D.E. department will be housed there.
2001
HLID is the first institute in the Middle East to take deafblind children. The deafblind department is opened by Prince Raad bin Zeid.
2002
The first students graduate from the local university in Salt with a degree in special education. Some of these students then come to work at the institute.
2004
In Jofeh at the Dead Sea, HLID is opening a center providing education and training for disabled children and women. This branch office is around two hours' drive from Salt and reaches families who were previously far away.
2012
Similar to Jofeh but a smaller HLID center is opened in the village of Kreimeh in the Jordan Valley. This year, another branch of the Institute for People with Disabilities will be added in the refugee camp in Za'atari for Syrian refugees.
2019
Brother Andrew, who had recently retired, dies tragically in an accident. His decades of work at HLID leave deep traces that will also be seen in the future. A friend of Brother Andrew, Dean Father Luay, takes over the management of the institute and has a great legacy to carry on. He cultivates a trusting relationship with his staff and creates a flatter hierarchy in which each department has its own head of department.
2022
Father Luay died unexpectedly in his early 60s during the summer vacation. Father Jamil, who was already working as a vicar at HLID and comes from Palestine, now takes over the leadership. After his first pastorate, he returns to his heart's passion and, thanks to his previous time, he already knows many of the staff and is fluent in Arabic sign language.
2024
The 60th anniversary of the school is celebrated together with many companions, government and church representatives, people from the friends' associations and everyone at the institute. There is great joy at what has been achieved and much hope for what is yet to come.
For the future
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