Who are we?
Bizchut, The Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities is a non-profit organization committed to advancing the rights of people with physical, developmental and emotional disabilities and enabling their full integration into mainstream society and participation in all areas of life. The name Bizchut (literally:'by right') reflects the belief that all people are entitled to the same basic rights and that the needs of people with disabilities must be met on the basis of entitlement, not as a function of charity or pity.
Originally launched as a project of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel in 1992, Bizchut was soon established as an independent organization. Bizchut is the address for people with disabilities whose rights have been violated because of their disability, their families, professionals and organizations working in the field in addition to policy-makers in the Israeli Knesset and government.
Aims and goals
People with disabilities make up over 10% of the Israeli population. Despite their numbers, people with disabilities often face discrimination and deprivation in many aspects of life. Bizchut strives to remove the barriers - both physical and psychological - that confront people with disabilities in Israel. We aim to ensure equality for people with disabilities, to enable their full participation in all areas of life, and to increase public awareness of the rights and needs of people with disabilities.
In particular, Bizchut focuses on:
- The right to equal access to public buildings and services, the media, information and public transport
- The right to education adapted to the special needs of the student with disabilities
- The right to integration into the mainstream education system
- The right to housing in the community
- The right to equality in the work-place
- The right to personal autonomy
- The right to investigative and legal procedures adapted to suit people with disabilities
What does Bizchut do?
In pursuit of its goals, Bizchut combines legal work with community outreach and educational initiative.
Our activities includes:
- Drafting and promoting of equal rights legislation
- Advocacy in court
- Conducting empowerment seminars for people with disabilities and their families
- Presenting lectures to professionals who work with people with disabilities, members of disability organizations and the general public
- Operation of hotlines concerning the rights of people with disabilities
- Programs training university law and social work students for future work with people with disabilities
Who we serve
Bizchut advocates for people within the entire range of disabilities - physical, developmental, emotional, sensory, learning disabilities, regardless of the cause of disability. Among the many people who turn to us for assistance are people in wheelchairs asking for equal access to cultural and educational institutions; children in need of paramedical services or support to enable their integration into a mainstream class; people suffering discrimination in the work workplace; people who want to live in the community rather than large and isolating institutions.
Bizchut is a non-sectarian organization that advocates for people with disabilities in all sectors of Israeli society. Regardless of age, social status, gender, nationality, or religious belief, Bizchut promotes the rights of young and old people, the economically able and those living below the poverty line, Arabs and Jews, secular and religious, men and women, veteran Israelis and new immigrants.
Bizchut`s Major Achievements
Bizchut`s most noteworthy achievements in its efforts to promote the rights of people with disabilities include:
The Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law (1998) - Originally drafted by Bizchut staff and taking effect in 1999, this law recognized the basic rights of people with disabilities for the first time in Israel. Enshrining the rights of people with disabilities to equality in employment and to accessible public transportation, the Law also mandated the establishment of The Commission for Equal Rights for People with disabilities. The Knesset is presently holding hearing on the bill which will constitute the second part of the Equal Rights Law and will establish the rights of people with disabilities in additional areas of life.
Accessibility of Polling Stations (1999) - Thousands of people with physical disabilities were able to vote for the first time following a petition brought by Bizchut to the Supreme Court in the name of four people who used wheelchairs. Following the petition, an amendment to a Knesset law recognized the right of people with mobility impairment to vote at any accessible polling station.
Achieving Accessible Transportation - As the result of a petition to the Supreme Court brought by Bizchut demanding implementation t fthe Equal Rights Law, the Minister of Transportation declared that all urban buses brought into service from 2001 will be equipped with ramps making them accessible to people who use wheelchairs
The work of Bizchut is made possible by donations from the following foundations: The Beracha Foundation, Clore Israel Foundation, The Gimprich Foundation, Joint Israel, The New Israel Fund, The Rich Foundation, The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation, the UJA New York Federation, U.S/Israel Women to Women, and the Wendy Weiker Gordon Memorial Fund, in addition to contribution from anonymous foundations and numerous individual donors.
Structure of the organization
Board of Trustees
Bizchut is managed by a board of Trustees. Comprised of people with disabilities . parents of people with disabilities, professionals and representative of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and The Council for the Protection of the child. The volunteer Board`s responsibilities include determining policy, establishing targets , and following upon the execution of Board decisions.
Board Members
Jonathan Gillis (advocate, chairperson), Ofer Dahari (psychologist and person with disability), Ahia Kamara (Representative of Bekol - Organization of Hard of Hearing and Deafened People in Israel), Mandy Leighton (public policy activist and person with disability), Ari Paltiel (demograh), Mustapha Shalata (social worker and person with a disability), Rivka Sneh (Representative of Children with Down Syndrome and parent to a child with a disability), Doron Tamir (Advocate), Vered Vindman (Representative of the Council for the Protection of the Child), Na`ama Yeshuvi (Representative of The Association for Civil Rights in Israel and parent of two children with a disability).
Bizchut`s staff
Sylvia Tessler-Lozowick, Executive Director
Wafa Ayoub, Coordinator, Arab Sector
Suzanne Cannon, Director of Development
Advocate Neta Degan, Legal Advisor
Oren Ganor, Spokesperson
Advocate Tirza Leibowitz
Victor Lederfarb, Financial controller
Na`ama Lerner, Director of Community Programs
Idit Saragusti, Coordinator, Mental Health Initiative
Milka Mosez-Shavit, Coortinator, Hotline for People with Disabilities
Shlomo Shapira, Hotline
Advocate Micki Schindler
Tsivia Wajsberg, Due Process Project
Avraham Kaplan (volunteer), Hotline for People with Disabilities - Tel Aviv
Keren Yaniv (volunteer), Hotline for People with Disabilities
Department and Projects
Legal Department
The central project of the Legal Department is ensuring the enactment of the second part of the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law. In addition to this, the department initiates and promotes the enactment of new laws and amendments to existing laws related to equal rights for people with disabilities. The legal Department also submits petitions and legal claims in all judicial and administrative forums. Where necessary, the department works in comparative law and prepares expert legal opinion. Working alongside the Legal department is the Legal Sub- committee, comprised of lawyers representing other organizations, the academic world and private practice.
Community Outreach Department
The Community Outreach Department is in constant contact with the disability field. One of the department`s main project is the development of an innovative empowerment program for people with disabilities, including a modular Empowerment Kit addressing all areas of life. A pilot project is at present being carried out in various frameworks in Jerusalem. The department is also involved in the development of a model for establishing housing units in the community for people with intermediate to severe developmental disabilities. Department staff also accompany groups of people with disabilities or their families who are organizing and taking action around a special subject, aiming to bring about a change in the status quo. An example of one such project is the Forum for Safe School Transport for Children with Special Needs. By providing such accompaniment, Bizchut staff are able to give people information about the rights to which they are entitled and skills for accessing them. Working with them to establish plans of action while accompanying them in their struggle.
Human Rights Hotline for People with Disabilities
Bizchut`s hotline receives requests for assistance from people with disabilities whose rights have been denied or violated as a result of their disability, members of their families and professionals who work in the field. In some cases, help is given immediately over the phone or the caller is referred to another organization. In cases requiring deeper involvement including action by Bizchut, contact may continue for a number of months. On occasions when it is necessary to turn to the judical system, the case is taken over by Bizchut`s Legal Department.
Project: Implementation of the Equal Rights Law for People with Disabilities
Project: Forum of Women with Disabilities for Women with Disabilities
Project: Joint Project with the Law Faculty and Social Work School of the Hebrew University of the Rights of People with Disabilities
How can you help?
Bizchut is an independent non-profit organization that receives no government funding whatsoever. Its activities are made possible by donation from foundations and private individuals who identify with our aims. Your contribution would make it possible for us to expand our efforts to promote the rights of people with disabilities in Israel. Donation can be sent to:
Bizchut - The Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities
P.O.B. 35401, Jerusalem 91352
Phone: 02-6521308
Fax: 02-6521219
Donations to Bizchut are recognized for the purposes of tax deduction by Israeli Income Tax Authorities.
Outside of Israel, your tax-deductible contribution may be sent one of the following addresses:
USA
Bizchut
C/o The New Israel Fund
P.O.B. 91588
Washington, DC 20090-1588
Canada
Bizchut
C/o The New Israel Fund
801 Eglington Ave West, 401
Toronto, M5N 1E3
UK
Bizchut
C/o The New Israel Fund
26 Enford Street
London W1H 2DD
Checks should be made payable to the New Israel Fund, but should include the memo: Donor Advised to Bizchut.
We invite you to join in our struggle to protect the rights of people with disabilities in Israel, and to ensure their full integration into all areas of society based on principles of quality and respect.
