According to Mansoureh Mohammadi, a poet, writer, political-social activist, and member of the disabled community, “One of the factors causing mental health crises for children with disabilities in Iran is the national media.” She says, “This media never respects people with disabilities. It never raises their social status. It always portrays them as objects of pity, as if they deserve sympathy.” Peace Mark Monthly Magazine sat down with Ms. Mohammadi to discuss the issues and challenges facing people with disabilities in Iran.

In this interview, Ms. Mohammadi highlights the multiple problems faced by people with disabilities in Iran—from social issues to employment and cultural matters—and identifies the government as the primary culprit, followed by families. She tells Peace Mark, “The system automatically isolates our children and pushes them to the margins.” In response to a question about employment for people with disabilities in the country, she says, “Even the 3% employment quota for disabled people is not adhered to, and when it is, they bring in people with no physical disabilities, replacing the actual candidates through favoritism, despite them having no connection to this sector.” The social activist, while explaining the challenges she faces herself, also talks about medicine shortages: “I don’t think there’s any real sanction. When drugs are available on the black market, it means they can be imported. So, sanctions are just a slogan.” She recounts a statement from a government official who told her, “These drugs are a financial burden on the government; these patients will die anyway, so there’s really no need to import their medications.” She adds, “Now that my own health is deteriorating daily, I feel that maybe that official was right.”

Below is the full interview with Mansoureh Mohammadi conducted by Peace Mark Monthly Magazine.

If you had to categorize the challenges you face as a person with a disability, which problem would you say is the most challenging?

We can categorize these problems into three main groups: The first set of problems is societal attitudes, meaning the way society views people with disabilities. The second is how companies, industries, or workshops disregard the abilities of people with disabilities when it comes to employment. The third, again socially, is the issue of marriage and personal lives for people with disabilities, which goes back to society’s negative perception and underestimation of this group.

Where do you think these perceptions originate? Since two of your points refer to societal attitudes.

The root of this mindset comes from the ruling system, which isolates these children to the extent that even their own families don’t accept them.

So, the behavior of the government causes the isolation of people with disabilities?

Yes. These children are segregated from others in education until university. They’re separated from others. It’s only at university that they begin to integrate into society and discover what life is like. That’s why many give up on continuing their studies or face multiple challenges in their education.

Who do you think is responsible for this? You mentioned the government; could you elaborate?

As I said before, the first culprit is the system and the government, and then the families. The system automatically isolates our children and marginalizes them. This means that until university or marriage, they shouldn’t interact with their peers, or if they do, the interaction is very limited. As a result, our children think that the world they live in is all there is, but that’s not true. The second point is that families need to confront this issue; they need to break the taboo and integrate their children into society. For example, if my parents see that because of the system’s demands, I have to study separately from other children, they should take the initiative to involve me in society, but they don’t; many families don’t.

Why do you think families don’t do this?

Mostly because these families want to avoid being judged by others. That’s why they try to keep their children out of sight.

You mentioned the government. In your opinion, is the main problem in the laws and regulations, or is it more about the enforcement? Which aspect is the biggest factor?

Here, it’s not really about the laws. I went to a regular elementary school. Although I had many difficulties, I was able to manage. So, the law isn’t the main issue here. Our children can, for example, attend a special school for elementary and a regular school for high school. There are challenges, like blind children needing assistants, but physically disabled children have institutions that help with rehabilitation if necessary. The issue for blind children is the difference in their writing system, which requires legal enforcement.

Is this law in place but not enforced?

Yes, the law is enforced. There’s no issue with that. Blind children study in special schools, while physically disabled children have no problem studying in regular schools. They do face issues like the accessibility of schools and proper treatment by teachers.

You mentioned employment. What is the employment situation and job opportunities for people with disabilities in Iran?

This is the most severe issue our children face. Physically disabled or hearing-impaired individuals are in a slightly better situation, but the problem is particularly intense for blind people. The employment quota isn’t followed, or they face challenges. For example, the Education Ministry or other agencies that should hire them often refuse. It’s common for regular teachers to be assigned to exceptional children, but those teachers can’t connect with them.

Can you elaborate on the issues related to employment in the education sector?

Right now, the biggest problem for blind children is with the Education Ministry. I’ve stayed away from government jobs for years, but from what I’ve heard from others, the Education Ministry even disqualifies candidates who pass the exams, for various reasons.

So, this rejection is illegal?

Yes, 100% illegal. Our children can easily work in both government and private sectors, provided the 3% employment quota is observed. The issue is that this quota is not respected. Even if half of that annual 3% was fulfilled, it would solve the problem for many people.

So, the main issue is the non-compliance with that quota?

Yes, it’s not respected at all. When it is, they bring in people with no physical disabilities through nepotism, replacing the rightful candidates. Unfortunately, our children’s rights are being trampled.

Are there any government or non-government programs to encourage employers to hire people with disabilities? Do you know of any such programs?

I’m not aware of any. But if the government wanted to, they could run rehabilitation classes. For example, organizations like the Welfare Organization could offer government-funded courses to teach people computer skills. Many of our children are highly proficient in computers. They could run rehabilitation or educational classes to help those who are not familiar with certain skills learn them. With proper funding, many of our children could even become entrepreneurs. Some of them already are.

So, these classes could serve as an incentive program to help with employment?

Absolutely. Without a doubt, this would happen. For example, deaf individuals, physically disabled people, the blind, and even children with Down syndrome could learn skills related to their academic background or work experience, which would help them in their social lives.

You mentioned public culture. What role do the media and public culture play in accepting and respecting the rights of people with disabilities in Iran? How can this role be strengthened?

One of the factors causing mental health crises for children with disabilities in Iran is the national media, which always portrays them as part of poor or destitute families. This media never respects people with disabilities or raises their social status. It always portrays them as objects of pity, as if they deserve sympathy, but that’s not true. The entire issue comes down to treating these children like everyone else. They may be missing a limb, but they are no different from other people. Anyone could be healthy one day and face such a challenge the next. So, we shouldn’t limit these children. Yet, they show films where a disabled person is begging or living in a poor family that can’t afford treatment. I’m not saying this doesn’t exist—it does—but not all disabled children are like that. We have individuals with high social status and academic degrees, living good lives without any problems. Some are even capable of creating jobs for others. We have people working in private hospitals as nurses, aides, or in other roles. Every job that able-bodied people do, our children are also involved in. But it all depends on the families. Families shouldn’t confine their children to the home. They shouldn’t force them to engage in a specific hobby and keep them inside. Why shouldn’t they go out? What do they lack compared to others that they shouldn’t be seen outside? When families go to parties or on the streets, why don’t they take their children with them? These children need to be seen, and this issue must be normalized.

Where do you think this behavior that families follow, which you referred to, comes from? Is it the influence of national media? Is it cultural? What is the root of the problem?

In my opinion, it stems from the people around them. People who look at these children with pity. People who, when they pass by, say, “Oh, God bless you.” I’ve lived alone for years. During the time I lived with my family, they never took me anywhere—no parties, no weddings, no outings. They’d say if you want something, we’ll buy it for you. Of course, I refused. They’d say if you need clothes, we’ll buy them for you. Why? Because they were embarrassed by people’s reactions. I realized that people’s judgments hurt them. When did I realize this? Let me share a memory with you. I was standing on the street, and a woman much younger than my mother forced her child to look at me. That’s when I understood what my mother had been enduring. After that, I realized I needed to distance myself from my family—for my own peace of mind and theirs. Now that I live independently, I still notice people’s stares, but I try not to pay attention and ignore them.

In your opinion, what can be done to help improve the acceptance and respect for the rights of people with disabilities in Iran?

Families need to expose their children to societal judgment and not be afraid of negative reactions. They should focus on the positive aspects. If the child has a specific talent, they should showcase it. However, they shouldn’t use that talent as a weapon to boast or elevate it to the point where the child gains a false sense of confidence and fails later in life. This issue needs to be completely normalized. Just as able-bodied people can have special talents, so can people with disabilities; there’s no difference.

What role do social institutions play in supporting people with disabilities, and how can this support be strengthened?

The only thing social institutions can do is involve more people with disabilities in their activities. If you have two disabled employees, don’t assign them as office assistants. Place them in roles where they can truly use their abilities. For example, many blind people are telephone operators, but most or all of them know how to work with computers, speak English, and have strong social skills, with many holding degrees in fields like law. Mental health centers could hire more blind individuals because they excel in areas like law and psychology. Although their options are limited to humanities, they are among the best in these fields.

How can these institutions strengthen their support, based on what you’ve said?

They need to increase the employment quota. The Education Ministry should value these individuals and employ them in various roles, even in regular schools.

You mentioned that blind students can only study humanities in higher education. Is that fair? What do you think?

The problem, in my opinion, is the compulsion. If there was no compulsion, I might still have chosen humanities. But when I saw that I was forced into studying humanities, I earned my diploma in computer science instead. I didn’t want to be forced into something. It’s completely unfair. Our children’s abilities far exceed this limitation that says they can only study humanities. I’ve discussed this issue before, and it sparked a lot of debate on social media. Some people argued that the law is correct, but I’ll always say it’s wrong as long as I live. There’s a lot to discuss in this area. You can talk to various people in different positions and hear their perspectives. In my opinion, this issue should be addressed until the right time comes to take action. I should clarify again that this only applies to the blind, and other people with disabilities don’t face such restrictions.

As a writer, how do you assess the situation of people with disabilities in the cultural and artistic fields in Iran?

The situation is quite good. Our children are extremely active. They are excellent poets and storytellers. Overall, they are highly active in the arts, and I’m confident that art is the one thing they can truly enjoy. They can also progress much further in artistic fields than they have already.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), you wrote, “Our entire life is a battle. I’m on the edge of a cliff. I want to save myself, but I can’t.” What factors led you to feel this way and express it on social media?

My situation is different from others. I’m politically and socially active and have faced pressure from many places, even from my family, to the point where I had to leave my family home and go my own way. I have several disabilities. I’m considered physically disabled, sensory disabled, and blind. A person like me has to manage their personal life, social life, and the costs of living and illness. I have to be able to cover rent and daily expenses. This person is only one person—someone who might be bedridden for 24 hours and not even be able to get a glass of water for themselves. This person doesn’t have the right to fail, doesn’t have the right to give up, and has to be a role model for others. I don’t blame anyone. This is a path I chose for myself. Even my family has the right to choose whether they can live with a child like me or not. Society hasn’t ignored me; what brought me to this point is the Iranian government. A system that bans the import of specific medications and raises drug prices. A system that doesn’t consider insurance for children with disabilities. All of these turn into pain, and these pains become problems. I’ve been without my main medications for six months now, and I’m suffering. I’ve been bedridden for 48 hours. I just got up, only enough to have a cup of tea. I can’t do anything else. Of course, we shouldn’t look for someone to blame, because maybe the real problem is that we’re still alive. Perhaps our culture and laws don’t accept people like us.

Can you tell us more about your illness?

My illness is completely unknown—perhaps even globally. My body automatically loses weight, muscle, and fat. My bones become brittle and soft, and they fracture on their own. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, severe insomnia or oversleeping, which have no balance and depend on the patient’s emotional state. None of these have been treated. Both my eyes have been affected, and many doctors say it’s because of this condition (though some disagree). My kidneys are also affected, but they haven’t been checked to determine the exact problem. Many of these issues are related to the body’s metabolism. We don’t know exactly what we’re dealing with or what to do. But even the treatments we had have slipped away. The main problem is the lack of medication.

Is the lack of medication due to sanctions, or are they simply not imported?

I believe there’s no real sanction. When drugs are available on the black market, it means they can be imported. So, sanctions are just a slogan.

So, the real issue is a lack of will to import these medications?

Yes. I once asked an official why these drugs aren’t imported. He said these drugs are a financial burden on the government, and these patients will die anyway, so there’s no need to import their medications. I’ve come to believe what he said. Now that my condition is worsening daily, I think maybe that official was right.

As a final remark, is there anything left unsaid that you’d like to share?

I hope society, and those who can help, will turn their attention toward children with disabilities. Some of these children cannot work in government agencies. For example, I myself cannot work in government agencies because of my political background. One of the children I spoke with said that I’ve been labeled as political, so I have no place among them. I have no place among those who are active—even among children with disabilities. I’ve sacrificed myself for others, and I’m not at all regretful of my actions. I hope those who can support our children do so, and that these children are employed in companies, agencies, and organizations where they can contribute. These children have a lot of potential. If you interact with a few of them, you’ll realize how capable they are and how much they can contribute to society. I hope we see less depression among them because they truly deserve to find their rightful place in society.

Thank you for your time and for speaking with Peace Mark Monthly Magazine.