An accessible outing at Jordan Park. Photo: Bonnie Scheinman
The International Day of People with Disabilities, which is observed worldwide on December 3rd, was initiated by the United Nations (UN General Assembly resolution 47/3) in order to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by people with disabilities in their everyday lives, and the importance of an inclusive and accessible society to us all.
Purpose of the resolution:
"To protect the dignity and liberty of people with disabilities and ensure their rights to equal and active participation in all areas of life as well as provide an appropriate response to each individual's special needs, enabling maximum independence, privacy, and respect, while enhancing their ability to realize their full potential."
For KKL-JNF, accessibility is a social and ethical priority, serving to socially integrate and promote equity for people with disabilities.
This is what we've done to advance public accessibility:
- Made ~350 forest sites accessible
- Made more facilities that receive visitors accessible
- Made the Beit Eshel complex at the Be'er Sheva River Park accessible with adaptive technologies for people with vision impairment and those with cognitive disabilities
- Made the visitor centers at the Hula Lake Park and the Ilanot Arboretum accessible
- Provided training for all KKL-JNF employees in raising awareness about accessible services for people with disabilities
- Provided accessible events and tours
- Created an accessible website with accessible content and videos
- Built accessible cabins at its Field and Forest Education Centers
- Complied with regulations requiring the employment of people with disabilities
- Provided accessibility guidelines in its advertising, signage, events, auto-attendant system, and more.
KKL-JNF is proud of its inclusive workplace:
We are proud to share that 2021 is the third year in a row in which KKL-JNF fully meets the requirements of the law for the adequate representation of people with disabilities in the workplace. We have a fully inclusive employment policy, and 5% of our talented staff are people with disabilities.
At KKL-JNF we work together with staff members to see what provisions need to be made to enable them to perform their job in best manner possible. The issue is well budgeted and thoroughly studied.
The necessary accommodations we have implemented are widely varied, and range from provision of a ramp from the parking lot to the elevator and transcription of meetings to almost imperceptible adaptations such as flexible work hours, care not to startle or emit loud noises, and helping managers cope appropriately with the specific features of the worker’s disability.
Crucially, all of our employees receive disability equality training every year, in order to remove stigmas and raise awareness.
Some statistics on disabilities in Israel
From the Central Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Abstract of Israel 2020 People with Disabilities:
- People with a Certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment: 24,000
- People with hearing impairments, fully eligible for supportive communication services: 6,600
- Disabled IDF veterans: 66,000
- People with severe functional disabilities: 13.9% of adults aged 20 and older