Here you will find a brief and accessible summary of the most important legislation on the matter: the <\/span>Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Law<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 The article will also point out the legal remedies available to you if your rights have been violated. If you require legal advice or assistance on disability rights in Israel, please contact our law office: <\/span>03-3724722.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n In 1998, the Knesset, Israel’s legislative body, passed the \u201cequal rights for persons with disabilities<\/a>\u201d law. It is the cornerstone of governmental policy on the matter of disability rights in Israel. The law is based on the belief in the intrinsic dignity of all human beings. Accordingly, it is intended to safeguard the individual rights of people with disabilities in Israel. For the purpose of this law, a disabled person is defined as an individual with a physical, cognitive, or mental impairment (whether permanent or temporary) that substantially limits the person\u2019s capacity to function in a major sphere of their life.<\/span><\/p>\n Disability rights that are legally protected in Israel can be grouped into four main categories:<\/span><\/p>\n People with disabilities have the right to the same opportunities in life as any other person. Therefore, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee with disabilities. Similarly, if a disabled person is qualified for a position, then a job cannot be denied from them on account of their disability. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the employer to make all the necessary adjustments required to accommodate their disabled employees\u2019 needs. Albeit, only as long as it does not present an undue burden on the employer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Asking an employee about their disability is a type of illegal discrimination in Israeli law. However, it is permitted if the purpose of the inquiry is to benefit the employee with disabilities, for example, by making the workplace more accessible for them.<\/span><\/p>\n The legislature in Israel mandates a certain quota of employees with disabilities for all public institutions. This is to ensure the right to equal opportunity for people with disabilities. Accordingly, any large public entity is required by law to ensure that at least 5% of its workforce is composed of people with disabilities. Private employers with at least 25 employees are instructed to be mindful of this as well. It is their legal responsibility to guarantee adequate representation of people with disabilities in their company.<\/span><\/p>\n When services are provided to a person with a disability, the services must be rendered in a way that respects their right to privacy. It is therefore illegal for service providers to ask a disabled person to elaborate on the nature of their disability. The service provider is not permitted to subject a disabled person to invasive questions. They should simply grant them the discount or exemption to which they are entitled.<\/span><\/p>\n People with disabilities deserve to have full access to the same locations as anyone else. In other words, it is their right to have easy access to any public institution, service, or recreational opportunity. Accordingly, all local municipalities must ensure that crosswalks and sidewalks are fully accessible to people in wheelchairs. Additionally, the law requires that public transportation and all public spaces be made accessible. This also includes privately run institutions that serve the general public. All these sites must be made accessible to persons with disabilities. The only exception is if there are insurmountable engineering constraints or similar legitimate concerns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n All institutions of health and education are required to make their facilities fully accessible to people with disabilities. In these places, there must be easy access for persons in wheelchairs. Signs in braille or audio announcements for the blind must accompany any written signs. Likewise, there should be closed captions or a sign language translator for the deaf. Furthermore, instructions should be adapted to a person\u2019s mental, cognitive, and neurological needs and limitations (including those of people on the autism spectrum).<\/span><\/p>\n Public and governmental services must ensure that there is no undue burden on people with disabilities. Moreover, their services must be of the same high quality as for the rest of the general public.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to these legal protections, people with disabilities in Israel have the right to economic security. Individuals with disabilities often face greater barriers in navigating professional life. Their disability also places an added financial burden on them. Therefore, people who suffer from disabilities that greatly affect their capacity to work qualify for a <\/span>monthly disability pension<\/span><\/a> from the <\/span>National Insurance Institute<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>Bituach Leumi<\/span><\/i>). They will also receive a certificate of disability<\/a><\/span>\u00a0which can guarantee certain discounts and exemptions in many institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n Israel also protects the financial rights of disabled individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. It is illegal for insurance companies, banks, and financial institutions to discriminate against people with disabilities. This extends also to disabilities and ailments that may shorten one\u2019s lifespan. People with pre-existing medical conditions are entitled to purchase life insurance and receive financial loans without discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n The first step a person with a disability can take is to ensure that their condition is recognized by the State of Israel. For example, there are several different stipends and grants that are available to a person with disabilities. The most broadly applicable monthly stipend is the general disability pension from the National Insurance Institute.<\/span> Additionally, a recognized disabled person will receive a certificate of disability. This certificate is proof of their legal status as a person with disabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n Equipped with a certificate of disability, a disabled person is empowered to demand all the protections to which they are entitled. If anyone continues to disregard someone\u2019s rights to equal opportunity, privacy, accessibility, and economic security, then a disabled person should consider taking legal action against them.<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, institutions and individuals occasionally violate someone\u2019s disability rights in Israel. In such cases, the person with disabilities may sue the offending party for damages. Seeking justice will discourage the offending party from violating the rights of others in the future. Therefore, such lawsuits are beneficial both to the immediate victim of oppression and to other people with disabilities. Sometimes, even a governmental institution may violate someone\u2019s disability rights. However, an experienced lawyer may be able to ensure one\u2019s rights are respected.<\/span><\/p>\n Occasionally, <\/span>Bituach Leumi <\/span><\/i>will unjustly refuse to acknowledge that a person with disabilities indeed qualifies as such in the legal sense. If a disabled person is unable to have a certificate of disability issued in their name, it can be very difficult for them to safeguard their rights. However, often these decisions can be appealed, and when justified, reversed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you found this article helpful, then you will probably find many other articles on our website which may be of interest to you, including <\/span>The Benefits of Being Registered as Disabled in Israel<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Applying for a Disability Pension in Israel<\/span><\/a>, How to Get a Disability Card in Israel<\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Applying for an Accessible Parking Permit in Israel<\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>and many more.<\/span><\/p>\n The attorneys in our law offices have a great deal of experience <\/span>in protecting the rights of Israeli residents and in liaising between private citizens and the authorities. If this article leaves you with more questions regarding disability rights in Israel, feel free to contact us. If you require legal advice on this topic or any other legal subject, please contact our law offices, and we will be glad to assist you.<\/p>\n [author_and_contact_info]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The following article gives an overview of disability rights in Israel. We believe it is important that every person with disabilities understands their rights, because every person deserves to be treated equally and with dignity. Therefore, by knowing your rights you can insist that you always be treated fairly. Here you will find a brief…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[610],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-disability-law"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Disability](\"https:\/\/lawfirmbackup_200125.k1uagm.ap-southeast-2.wpstaqhosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/disability-sign-small.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe \u201cEqual Rights for Persons with Disabilities\u201d law\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n
The primary types of disability rights protected by the law in Israel<\/b><\/h4>\n
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![\"Disability](\"https:\/\/lawfirmbackup_200125.k1uagm.ap-southeast-2.wpstaqhosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/woman-with-down-syndrom-enjoying-a-coffee-small.jpg\")
<\/h4>\nThe right to equal opportunity<\/b><\/h4>\n
Affirmative action<\/b><\/h4>\n
The right to privacy<\/b><\/h4>\n
The right to accessibility<\/b><\/h4>\n
Different types of accessibility<\/b><\/h4>\n
The right to economic security<\/b><\/h4>\n
![\"Disability](\"https:\/\/lawfirmbackup_200125.k1uagm.ap-southeast-2.wpstaqhosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/two-men-with-different-disbilities-small.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow to protect your rights<\/b><\/h4>\n
Legal remedies if your disability rights have been violated<\/b><\/h4>\n
Additional articles of interest<\/b><\/h4>\n
Contact us<\/b><\/h4>\n