Holy Land Institute for the Deaf

The Holy Land Institute for the Deaf is a residential school and rehabilitation centre that serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children from across Jordan and the wider Arab region. Its campus is in Salt's upper town, and the institution has been part of the town's social fabric for over sixty years. It is a working school rather than a visitor attraction, but its presence is a reminder of the philanthropic layer that coexists with Salt's commercial and religious heritage.

The institute has developed Arabic sign language resources used throughout the Arab world, making its contribution to regional culture extend far beyond Salt itself. Visitors with an interest in the institution's work can contact them in advance for information; uninvited visits to the campus are not appropriate.

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A story
The Holy Land Institute for the Deaf was founded in Salt in 1964 by Father Anthony Sheehan, an Irish Vincentian priest, and has grown into one of the most significant institutions for deaf education in the Arab world. Its presence in Salt is part of a broader history of Christian-run schools and charitable institutions in the town that dates back to the late nineteenth century, when European missionaries established themselves here precisely because of Salt's reputation for inter-communal tolerance.