Bizchut - March 2025 updates

Disscussion have begun on the regulation to Social Services law In the first discussion we were joined by people with disabilities who are members of our joint activist group at B!zchut and the “Link 20” organization, whose overarching objective is promoting independent living in the community, while making the voices of people with disabilities heard in the decision-making processes. In the discussion, group members emphasized the importance of including people with disabilities as full, active participants in these processes, particularly when it comes to discussions about amendments to the Welfare and Social Services law. Alongside MK Meir Cohen, we emphasized the connection between the law’s goals and the recommendations of the Dotan Committee, which called for the closure of residential institutions for people with disabilities within five years. The committee proposed providing residents of these institutions with housing options in the community. This requires the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services to act immediately to apply the law and move people with disabilities out of the institutions and into independent and autonomous living in the community.

 Bizchut and Link 20 representatives in the disccussion, 3.2.25 To the full post in our blog (in Hebrew) The Court granted our request for a Show Cause Order in the appeal regarding the use of restraints on residents in welfare institutions! The court accepted our request and issued a Show Cause order in the appeal on the use of restraints. The Ministry of Welfare and Social Services is now required to explan it hasnot striked out the clauses in the Ministry’s Director’s Circular that permit the use of restraints. The Ministry must submit its response by no later than May 18, 2025. To the full post in our blog (in Hebrew) A proposed bill we initiated – banning discrimination in licensure based on health considerations – has been approved in its first reading in the Knesset The proposed bill aims to amend a series of laws that have historically classified “mental illness” as a “dangerous disease,” effectively labeling individuals with psychiatric diagnoses as unfit to work in certain professions solely based on their diagnosis. This bill seeks to rectify this injustice. The bill was initiated by B!zchut and is being actively promoted by MK Michal Waldiger. During its preliminary discussion in the Knesset, there was broad consensus both among the Chair of the Health Committee and of representatives from the relevant ministries to accept the proposed legislative changes.

Towards the second and third readings, we intend to expand the proposal to also address the rights of students, ensuring that individuals accepted into higher education programs will not be asked to disclose their psychiatric diagnoses.

The regulations for accessibility during times of emergencies must include provisions for the appointment community support agents for people with disabilities! During a discussion in the Labor and Welfare Committee regarding accessibility regulations in emergency situations for people with disabilities, we emphasized the urgent need to establish the role of a “community support agent.” A community support agent is a person designated to make contact with people with disabilities within the local municipality where the agent operates. Their role is to asses the condition of people with disability and to ensure that their essential needs (food, medications, etc.) are met. We stressed that without this role, it would be impossible to adequately address the needs of people with disabilities who require assistance during emergencies

 In the current war, people with disabilities have required continuous support; nevertheless many times the response provided by volunteers  has been insufficient. We believe the best solution would be to recruit designated individuals via an emergency call-up order by the Home Front Command, who would be trained specifically for this role and be available for immediate deployment during emergencies. View the committee’s videoclip (in Hebrew), mark 0:55-0:57 A new activism group at B!zchut focused on mental health! According to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, people with disabilities have the right of full participation in political and public life. At B!zchut we are committed the belief that “Nothing About Us, Without Us” is not merely a slogan but a guiding principle and a working policy. Beginning in December 2024, B!zchut has launched an activism group consisting of 15 members from across the country. The group shares the following aspects:

a) All members are individuals with a psychosocial disability and have personal experience with community based rehabilitation services. 

b) All members are dedicated to advocating for change: to reducing stigmas surrounding mental health in Israeli society, promoting a life of equality, independence and autonomy in the community, and improving rehabilitation services to better meet the needs of those who rely on them.

The first weeks of activity have focused on building team dynamics, studying and mapping the existing situation, and identifying the barriers that need to be addressed. We will keep you updated.