Two wounded in a shooting attack in Samaria/use according to Section 27 A of the Copyright Law
The war of iron swords took a heavy toll not only on the soldiers on the battlefield, but also on Israeli society as a whole. Thousands of injured people, many of them at the beginning of their adult lives, some of them suffering from serious injuries and mental injuries, will be forced to reintegrate into the labor market while dealing with new disabilities.
About 800,000 people of working age with disabilities live in Israel today, and more than half of them are unemployed. The current war is expected to significantly increase their number, and will present Israeli society with a tremendous challenge - the integration of thousands of people with disabilities into the labor market.
Since October 7th, thousands of people with disabilities have been added to the State of Israel. Economic studies show that the loss to the Israeli economy from the lack of integration of people with disabilities at work is about NIS 5 billion per year. Accordingly, the lack of integration of the new citizens with a limit since the beginning of the war, will cause the Israeli economy additional economic damage of millions of shekels every year.
It is not just about statistics, but about young people, full of hope and dreams, who have their whole lives ahead of them. We must guarantee them an equal opportunity, allow them to fully integrate into society, bring them to self-realization, and prevent them from degenerating into loneliness, depression and frustration.
Despite their many abilities, people with disabilities encounter many difficulties in trying to integrate into the labor market. Working environments that are not accessible, lack of dedicated professional training, and prejudices on the part of employers, are just some of the barriers that prevent them from exhausting their tremendous potential. And in many cases they are also the ones who perpetuate the limitation and strengthen the stigma.
Integrating them into the labor market is not only a moral obligation, but also a tremendous opportunity for the Israeli economy. These employees repeatedly prove their loyalty, creativity, and commitment, and contribute greatly to the success of the organizations in which they work.
The 'Please Touch' center is the proof that this is possible. The center provides employment to approximately 70 employees with visual and hearing disabilities, and provides them with dedicated training, professional accompaniment and emotional support that lead to their full and successful integration into society.
Before coming to Na La Lachaat, most of them tell about difficult experiences of being rejected from different workplaces, especially when working in front of an audience, and about many obstacles on the way to integrating into the hearing-seeing society. These difficulties are manifested mainly in work environments that are not sufficiently accessible, and in the lack of openness on the part of employers in accepting people with disabilities, as those who can be contributing and successful employees.
The difficulties in integrating and finding suitable employment lead to the fact that these people feel that they are unable to use their abilities and skills in a way that allows for occupational and creative satisfaction on the one hand, and a contribution to society on the other, and in the end they have no choice but to fall as a burden on society. Their desire is not to be a burden on society, but to contribute and give back to it like any other person.
This problem, which has not received a proper answer for many years, will not be solved by itself. Precisely in this period when the number of people with disabilities is going to increase significantly, the state must mobilize to deal with the problem. She must promote regulations that require the accessibility of educational institutions and workplaces, the development of dedicated training programs, raising awareness among employers of the many advantages that exist in their employment, and providing financial incentives to encourage their employment.
The time to act is now! We must not neglect the war victims and those who gave their lives for the country. We must act quickly and decisively to lay the right infrastructure for the days ahead. And when the "outrage" passes, we as a society will be able to respond to the need that has arisen, allow them to integrate into society in a respectable manner, and guarantee them a better future. A future where they can realize their potential, contribute to society, and live a full and meaningful life.
The writer is the CEO of "Na Lagaat", a non-profit art and culture center, which is a meeting place between deaf-blind people and the general public.