Ola Abu Alghaib is a Palestinian disability rights advocate who is considered to be one of the more influential leaders in the international movement for disability-inclusive development, and works as the Director of the Secretariat at the United Nations Global Disability Fund (GDF)
Ola was born in Nablus, a major city in Palestine. She was twelve when she had to deal with a health crisis and accept a permanent disability. After becoming disabled, Ola was forced to stay home for three years, and received no schooling. She felt marginalized and worthless, but decided to go back to school despite her disability. She went on to get a Bachelor’s Degree, two Master’s Degrees, and a Ph.D. in social protection, autonomy, and disability rights.
Ola has more than two decades of experience advancing inclusive policies, systems, and practices across low- and middle-income countries and has collaborated with the United Nations system to promote disability-inclusive policies and programs around the world
She established Stars of Hope Society (SHS) which serves as national representative for women with disabilities in Palestine and the Levant to address the needs of women with disabilities and support them in realizing their rights, increasing awareness about women with disabilities, their status, reality, and needs to promote equality in education, employment, and all walks of life.
She has held significant roles in various policy initiatives, including currently vice chairing the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) and representing IDDC on the Policy Board of the UN Partnership for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD); a board member at the Global Disability Innovation Hub; board member of Disability Rights Fund; and core group member at the Together 2030 agenda.
Ashoka Page for Ola Abú Al Ghaib
Link to the Studies and Research page from Stars of Hope
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