Feeling of helplessness (illustration)
Former MK Ilan Ghilon
Photo: Yaron Brener
Public buildings to be accessible to disabled
New law requires structures serving the public to install access to wheelchairs, elevators and services for people with disabilities
For years they have been forced to suffer during every visit to the cinema, the shopping mall, the city hall or any other public building. Now their lives are about to change, thanks to new regulations forcing public buildings to become accessible to disabled people.
Some 600,000 invalid and physically handicapped people live in Israel, including deaf and blind people. They are all very familiar with the feeling of helplessness upon arriving at the swimming pool, cinema or city hall. There is no access to wheelchairs, and if even if they manage to make it to the elevator, they cannot reach the buttons.
After four years of discussions, the Knesset's Labor, Welfare and Health Committee adopted a law over the weekend requiring every public building in Israel to become accessible to disabled people and include accessible parking, access to wheelchairs where stairs are located, elevators adapted to handicapped and blind people and an accessible lavatory.
The bill was initiated by former Knesset Member Ilan Ghilon (Meretz), who will be returning to the Israeli parliament after the elections.
The regulations will apply to every new public structure built in Israel. The construction of a new building will not be approved with an accessibility plan.
The regulations will next be signed by the interior minister. Yuval Wagner, chairman of the Access Israel organization, who was one of the people who pushed for the law's approval, said that this was a very important step in favor of people with disabilities.
Israel Even-Zahav, who is in charge of accessibility at the Human Rights Organization of People with Disabilities, said in response, "I hope the next Knesset will continue working for disabled people."
