Access Israel

Access Israel is dedicated to making Israel an accessible place for all its citizens, especially those living with disabilities. To achieve its mission the organization works with government agencies and corporations to design and build facilities that take into account the specialized needs of the disabled. To achieve this goal, Access Israel established the Forum for Accessibility Promoting Businesses in Israel, where members work to encourage their companies to make accessibility a basic feature in every aspect of their business.

Access Israel serves as an information centre, providing essential information for people with disabilities and their families. Its online database, Access Key, includes reliable and up-to-date information on accessibility to over 10,000 public and private places and facilities in Israel, as well as on public transportation. Each year more than 400,000 people access the database. Access Israel has also developed accessible picnic areas and observation posts in many of the country’s national parks for people with disabilities to enjoy nature with dignity, respect and a high level of independence.

To demonstrate to the public how simple it is to change its attitude towards the disabled, Access Israel has initiated several innovative projects to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of accessibility, and acceptance of people with disabilities as equals. Such projects include educational programmes for students, where children participate in "Accessible Stops," each aimed at exposing participants to a different disability, such as using a wheelchair to go up a ramp, scoring points with a basketball, using a guide stick while blindfolded, or having a guide dog help them complete an obstacle course. The Accessible Tastes initiative allows participants to experience what a disabled person goes through when they dine in a restaurant.