Making Israel Accessible: Access Israel – a Profile  

What is our goal? - Founded in 1999, Access Israel, is a non-profit organization dedicated to making Israel an accessible place for all. The concept of “accessibility for all” means that every disabled person should participate in society as an equal, dignified, and independent Israeli citizen; in practice, “accessibility for all” means that every location is available for every person to freely move in , as well as use and experience the location.  

Where is accessibility needed? The lack of accessibility can be seen everywhere: from places that provide the very basic services, such as government offices, public places, such as parks, to places considered “normative” (which are not), such as movie-theaters and museums. These places often take pride in aesthetically beautiful but accessibility-lacking architecture, which are built with a concept of the human being as  only an individual, walking, healthy person thereby ignoring the plethora of human diversity & needs.  

How did we start? Lieutenant-Colonel Yuval Wagner, (36), a father of three, is a former-combat helicopter pilot in the Israeli Air-Force.  In 1987 while on a mission his Cobra helicopter crashed, leaving him a quadriplegic; nevertheless, he continues to serve in the Air-Force—as an information specialist. Being disabled has provided Mr. Wagner a first-hand experience of life in inaccessible Israel. he founded the organization Access Israel and volunteers his time to promote the organization.  

Who do we work for? No precise numbers are available as to the degree and relevance of disability in Israel; however, estimates begin at  700,000 disabled persons—the list includes IDF disabled, victims of terrorist attacks, car-accident survivors, genetic and birth defect disabled, as well as others—inthe primary circle,or, 10% of the entire population, and reaches up to two million members of the secondary circle, which includes family members and other persons directly involved with those in the primary circle. All of the above need and ask for accessibility in their daily lives.  

What do we do?   We pursue several projects: 

The first project  is Access Key  - we designed and developed a unique and unprecedented online accessibility information database. This service provides information on the web on the degree and kind of accessibility available in different places from all walks of life. The service has become a useful and indispensable tool in the daily lives of the disabled. Access Key provides free information to anyone with access to our website. Reliable and up-to-date accessibility information on public transportation, public and government buildings, tourism and entertainment facilities, culture and leisure sites, schools and educational buildings, to malls and businesses is available only one click away.

–this project is well into its 4^th year and enjoys a steadily growing following of web-users.  

The second project is Access Israel “Badge of Honor”  - Access Israel’s “Badge of Honor” is awarded to those locations which have made themselves accessible beyond the minimal requirements established by law. By using Access Israel’s accessibility consultation services these locations have earned the highest mark of accessibility there is: Access Israel’s badge of honor – Ot Negishut Yisrael (“Badge of Access Israel”).

–this new project has already awarded two Badges of Honor, and at least three more are already under plans.  

The third project is Access Israel Legislation Lobby - Access Israel has become the primary voice in promoting legislation focusing on accessibility issues. We work closely with MKs  (Members of Knesset – the Israeli parliament), other NGOs and government agencies related to accessibility.

–this project is undertaken in consortium with other organizations and is responsible for several laws under legislative process at the moment.  

The fourth project is Access Israel Awareness - A national awareness campaign on television, radio and  newspapers, intended to promotie and raisie public awareness, receptiveness and positive societal conditions for the disabled daily needs. The campaign also encourages organizations and businesses to improve their accessibility standards. Last, but not least, the campaign promotes the fight against illegal parking in designated parking spaces for the disabled.

--this project created a media buzz and has been effective in influencing public opinion. Another campaign will be coming up within a month. (what campaign?) 

The fifth project is Accessible  Web – together with other Israeli organizations, such as the Israeli Internet Association,  we are promoting accessibility to the Web in Israeli websites.

This project gains more and more influence as sites become more accessible; Access Israel’s new website, under construction at the moment, is planned to be fully accessible.  

Access Israel promotes all of these projects by using advertising and public relations with help from one of the leading advertising agencies – Geller Nesis D’Arcy, which donates its services.  

Access Israel  also supports other activities that are meant to render general public activities and events accessible. Such activities include promoting accessible voting-booths, music festivals, and national parks with accessibility and disability-related events.  

Summary:  

Access Israel’s work is both comprehensive and specialized: we aim at providing the best results in accessibility in all possible areas and walks of life.  

Our success has been very significant relative to our resources but  it is still far from the desirable goal. The goal is to make Israel an accessible in all possible aspects: from the basic services every citizen and person is entitled to, to the individual-unique self-expressive activities and to  community objectives at large.  

With four office-workers and four-field workers our organization is a small, efficient, understanding unit. All of the above activity is carried out under the rubric of a Non-Profit organization that receives limited government funds, donations, and fees from consultation services.

Since we know who we are, what we want, and how to achieve this… our fight is one of revisionism. We are trying to change the status-quo and are doing it incrementally—step by step. For us true success means that accessibility will be THE status-quo.

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