This is a place to share music that moves you.
This first one, For the Sake of Peace, is a favorite of many at ECI. What is your favorite?
Disability and a Society for All
خمي, 03/29/2007 - 15:21 — djtansey
Translations:
During Steven Hawking's visit to Israel, several months ago, he found time, among other occupations, to participate in a short film that deals with issues of accessibility (www.aisrael.org).
In the beginning of the clip, the camera focuses on his handicapped body that sits in a wheelchair. Then he starts speaking. Since he cannot produce speech, he speaks with the help of a special computer program that translates the movements of his pupils into speech.
He says: "In twenty years, men may be able to live on the Moon. In forty years we may get to Mars. In the next 200 years we may leave the solar system and head for the stars. But meanwhile, we would like to get to the supermarket, the cinema, restaurants."
This impressive film adequately expresses one of the central problems that people with disabilities are facing today, the problem of accessibility. The problem has political, moral and philosophical aspects.
Support for the disabled in the U.S., Canada and some of the countries of Western Europe was achieved by disabled people fighting for their rights in the 70s.
It seems that solutions to this problem vary according to the extent of progress in society: from one that belongs to the circle of developed countries, to others. For the sake of discussion, I will remind us that in ancient Sparta handicapped people were left on a top of a mountain.
Indeed, why should we supply resources for accessibility of the disabled? Most citizens do not have problems of this sort …
Why is this question being a litmus test that defines different sorts of societies?
As I said, the problem has many aspects. It seems, that the main question here is: Is the society, any society for that matter, defined as a society of all its citizens, and are we, as a society interested to ensure that everyone will enjoy easy access to the those places Hawking mentioned?
The film presents this issue well: one of the most brilliant minds alive today on our planet is packed in a crippled body. Without help of modern technology, i.e., a wheelchair, a program that translates the movements of his pupils into English, etc., he would be, undoubtedly, sentenced to a miserable existence and we would be deprived of his brilliant theories.
The film puts well the price that his existence costs society: making the surrounding accessible. Who knows the value that would be created if more disabled people had access to society?
Jenny Kitov, translates and edits texts into Hebrew. Being in a wheel chair (she is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis) has deepened her awareness of the need for cooperation in our society.
בביקורו של סטיבן הוקינג בישראל הוא מצא זמן, בין השאר, להצטלם לסרטון שעוסק בענייני נגישות.
הסרטון הופק באדיבות אתר "נגישות ישראל": http://www.aisrael.org/Eng/Index.asp?CategoryID=30
בתחילה, המצלה מתמקדת על גופו הנכה היושב בכיסא גלגלים.
מייד אחר כך הוא מתחיל לדבר. מכיוון שאינו מסוגל לייצר קול, הוא מדבר בעזרת תוכנת מחשב מיוחדת שהופכת את תנועות אישוניו לדיבור.
הוא אומר: 'בעוד עשרים שנה האדם ילך על המאדים. בינתיים, אני רוצה להגיע לצרכנייה, לסרט ולמקומות נוספים'.
הסרטון המרשים הזה מנסח היטב את אחת הבעיות המרכזיות הניצבות כיום בפני ציבור הנכים, בעיית הנגישות. לבעיה ישנם היבטים פוליטיים, מוסריים ופילוסופיים.
נראה שחלק מהן הוסדר באופן משביע רצון בחברות האמריקאית והקנדית, ואף בחלק מהמדינות במערב אירופה.
דומה, שהפתרונות הניתנים לעניין מבחינים בין חברות מתקדמות – כאלה השייכות למעגל המדינות המפותחות – לאחרות. לצורך הדיון אזכיר רק שבספרטה נהגו להשאיר את הנכים בראש הר, בלי יכולת להגיע משם למקום ישוב, קרי, דנו אותם למוות כי אינם מועילים לחברה.
ובאמת, למה להקצות משאבים לעניין? הרי לרוב האזרחים אין קשיי ניידות?.. מדוע השאלה הזו מהווה נייר לקמוס המבחין בין סוגי חברה שונים?
כפי שאמרתי, לבעיה ישנם היבטים שונים. דומה, שהשאלה המרכזית הנשאלת כאן הנה: האם החברה – כל חברה, לצורך העניין – היא חברת כל האנשים בה, ומעונינת שכל אחד מהם יוכל ליהנות מגישה חופשית לאותם מקומות בסיסיים שהוקינג הזכיר, הסופרמרקט והקולנוע?
הסרטון מציג היטב את הבעייה: אחד המוחות המבריקים החיים היום על פני הכוכב הזה מגיע כשהוא 'ארוז' בגוף נכה, אשר ללא טכנולוגיה מתקדמת העומדת לרשותו (המכשיר הממוחשב המעבד את תנועות אישוניו לדיבור, כיסא הגלגלים ועוד) היה, ללא ספק, דן את בעליו לקיום אומלל, אפילו טרגי, ומונע מאתנו את התיאוריות המבריקות שלו.
הסרטון מנסח היטב גם את המחיר שקיומו וקיום אלה הדומים לו גובה מהחברה: הנגשת הסביבה.
האם אנו מוכנים להיענות לאתגר?
ستيفن هوكنيج زار مؤخراً إسرائيل إذ وجد لنفسه ببعض الوقت لعمل فيلم الذي يناقش قضية الاضطهاد .
الفيلم من أنتاج موقع الإعاقة في إسرائيل http://www.aisrael.org/Eng/Index.asp?CategoryID=30
بداية التصوير كانت تتمركز على جسم المعاق وهو جالس على كرسي عجلاته , وبعد ذلك يبدأ الحديث ولأنه لا توجد لديه قدرة على الكلام إذ أنه يتكلم بمساعدة الحاسوب إذ يوجد برنامج خاص يساعده على الكلام .
قال:" بعد مرور عشرين سنة الإنسان سوف يعيش على القمر , حالياً أنا أود الوصول إلى السينما أو إلى أماكن أخرى.
هذا الفيلم المثير للانطباع يعرض إحدى القضايا المركزية الموجودة في المجتمع خاصة المشاكل التي تواجه المعاقين وهي مشكلة الاضطهاد.
لهذه القضية يوجد انعكاسات سياسية, أخلاقية وفلسفية.
نرى أن قسم من هذه المشاكل قد حل بشكل الذي يرضي الجميع في المجتمعات الأمريكية والكندية وقسم أخر في غربي أوروبا.
يوجد تشابه , الحلول الحالية للقضية تفحص بين مجتمعات عصرية التي هي تنتمي إلى مدن متحضرة الأخريات.
من أجل النقاش ,أذكر أنه في العهد القديم في مدينة أسمها إسبارطة في أثينا كانوا يتركون المعاق على رأس الجبل.
في الحقيقة لماذا يجب تقليص الموارد ؟
حتى أغلبية المواطنين لا توجد لديهم صعوبة في التنقل.
إذا لماذا يطرح هذا السؤال, لماذا هذا السؤال أنه يشبه ورقة الامتحان التي تتفحص بين طبقات متنوعة في المجتمع ؟
مثلما تكلمت سابقاً للقضية يوجد انعكاسات مختلفة السؤال الذي يطرح نفسه : المجتمع , كل مجتمع لكل المواطنين وهل المجتمع يطمح لمساعدة ودعم المعاقين بشكل حر يستطيع بذاك التحرك لأماكن التي ذكرها هوكينج, الذهاب لسوبر ماركت وإلى السينما.
الفيلم يعرض القضية أحدى القضايا البارزة في المجتمع اليوم وعلى وجه هذا الكوكب يأتي ألينا وهو ملفوف في رزمة في جسم معاق بدون وسائل متقدمة التي تعمل تحت أمرته ( الحاسوب المحو سب الذي يترجم حركات عينيه للتكلم , كرسي عجلات وغيره) وبدون أدنى شك الوضع مزري , مأساوي, ويمنعنا من التعرف على النظريات التي تخصه .
الفيلم يجسد الثمن المدفوع لأولئك الشبيهين له
هل نحن على استعداد لمواجهة التحدي ؟
ي
Thanks everyone!
Thanks everyone for a great discussion. Our next discussion begins,
Thursday, May 3rd. See you then!
Stephanie Tansey and the ECI Team
תודה לכולם על הדיון המעניין. הדיון הבא שלנו מתחיל ביום חמישי, ה -3 במאי. נתראה שם!
סטפאני טאנסי וצוות אמנת כדוה"א בישראל.
على المناقشة الشيقة
مناقشتنا القادمة ستبدأ يوم الخميس 3 مايو
تحياتي ستفاني تانزي وفريق العمل
ECI
سأراكم بعد حين
Stephanie<
Employment Opportunities for the Disabled.
Eyal Shapira and I met two wonderful people today. Shlomo Salamon, owner of the very popular Amore Mio restaurant on Ibn Grivol. For the last fifteen years he has employed handicapped persons at his delicious Pizza Pazza (102 Ibn Grivol) next door. Shlomo wasn't so interested in talking about himself but was anxious for us to meet Hedva Hatmi, of Akim Tel Aviv, which has an Alternative Occupations section. Hedva locates and places handicapped persons in literally thousands of employers. If you are an employer or qualify and are looking for work please contact her at 03 5663563.
Stephanie
VideoVets - another way for the disabled to contribute
Moveon.org, the online activism movement in the United States is now supporting a drive to help VideoVets —a website where Iraq veterans and military families use YouTube videos to push back against Bush supporters who say ending the Iraq war is anti-troop.1 Some of these are disabled. http://pol.moveon.org/videovets/on_your_website.html?id=10234-6745252-evO.60&t=2
Tens of thousands of people have already watched these powerful stories and they are looking for feedback. Another way disabled persons are making their personal contributions to a wider cause.
There are probably a lot more of this kind and more I am sure will come now that there is the Treaty.
Stephanie
Thank you so much!
Thank you, Stephanie, Leslie and the others. When I wrote the article I had no idea so many people cared so much and will devote time, thought and energy to what seemed to me a half-lost cause. Your participation showed me I am not alone, as I thought I was. I am deeply grateful!
Jenny.
You are not alone!
Actually thanks goes to you, Jenny, for making people like me more aware of the issues involved. Awareness is only the first stage. The second stage is trying to solve each of the problems. By the way, there is another area we haven't really touched upon in this discussion and that is access to the Internet. How accessible are webpages for the disabled? Especially for the blind and hard of seeing, but also people like Stephen Hawking - your starting point - people who cannot move a mouse or click a keyboard. Shall we always just leave these problems to the experts. There are of course rules as to how to make an internet site more accessible - but I don't think most people are really aware what these rules are, OK, I admit it I'm clueless too. I don't know even what equipment blind people use to "read" the webpages. I don't know how it works. I don't know how to improve on it. It's probably so specialized that it costs millions of dollars. I'm almost certain that if the problem was thrown open to the Internet community to solve it would probably be solved in a few days. How would I solve the problem? I think I would start a competition for high school kids, the young entrepreneurs, and offer a small prize to the winner. The competition: put on a blindfold and try and surf the net from your computer at the off position. Target to "read" the discussion on access to disabilities at the Earthcharter communities home page. This page! Open to other suggestions.-leslie
Dear Leslie, I forgot to thank you...
My response was written in such a hurry, that I forgot to thank you for you gentle support and genuine concern, that are in my understanding more important and valuable than technical equipment.
Equipment and inventions are, of course, a result of awareness, but still, awareness but awareness comes first.
Jenny.
Leslie, I know solutions exist. I also do not know enough.
I know there are technical solutions to some of the problems you have mentioned regarding the Internet. I know there are special programs that turn written text to sounds and vice versa - unfortunately, not in Hebrew - yet (?)
I know there are programs that enlarge text for the challenged visually.
I know there is more, and I am sure other people know.
Ask Eyal - I think he might know.
Jenny.
2007 Israel Prize goes to Disabled Joint Distribution Committee
In today's Haaretz there is an article about Tamara Barnea and the work of the Joint Distribution Committee which supports the disabled in a number of ways. "The message the diabled are bringing is not one of wretchedness, but one of ability, of power and of a desire to integrate, work, ride a bicycle and win medals." she said. (p.7)
Although there is a well developed system of institutions, most of the disabled persons live in the community but lack services. The Joint has developed a "supporting neighborhoods" concept and subscribe to services including an emergency hotline, an on-call community helper, professionals such as electricians to conduct repairs, medidal services, social activities and more. Together they have been able to make communities more accessible to everyone. The Joint committee works with Jews, Druze, Bedouin and Arab communities.
I think this neighborhood approach to supporting a society for all is a great idea. I also think that with this support the disabled will be able to contribute to their society in many ways, not just in their community but teach others how to make the world a better place. All of us could learn a lot from these disabled persons. Bravo!
Stephanie
Haaretz Article: Two Laureates, One Woman (April 19)
> Haaretz,Thursday, April 19, 2007
> This article can be found full text on the internet at:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/850303.html
Tamar Barnea's dream, we are told " is a transportation system that enables the disabled to take care of their
own errands, attend social events, and go to school and work. She
envisions a staff comprised of a transportation expert from the
Technion, a logistics expert from the Israel Defense Forces and
representatives of the tourism companies and transportation
cooperatives. Together they would build a giant fleet of vehicles to
serve disabled people all over the country and ease their path to
independent living."
I'm certainly not going to stop her dreams, or the Technion/IDF figuring out how to help. However, I think this dream can be realized in a much simpler way - once people start to get into the habit of buying (and selling) their daily products on the Internet. The fleet of vehicles would automatically follow suit - part of the supermarket's service - and nothing to do with altruism. It's just a matter of time before supermarkets/ corner stores go fully online with sales/distribution of everything/anything. Most, well, many, people buy their books, DVD's CD's that way already - eventually it won't make any difference whether the person is disabled or abled. It will just be a question of profitability for the store owner. Wouldn't it be nice to get all your shopping done in one click of a button? No need to wait in long queues? Some people already order groceries via the telephone - and they are not even disabled.
Transportation and the Disabled
Yes, you are right Leslie, more and more is available online and some do not know this.
I think both are necessary. I think it is very important, for their physical well being that everyone gets fresh air, gets out into nature, or just does local errands and says hello to the neighbors. This enriches everyone. Participating in civil society organizations, reading to children at the library, working -- all are what we call "ful-citizens."
Jenny I know is trying to update tours for the disabled. Perhaps the disabled could get involved in the Joint neighborhood committees and locate the pathways to the different neighborhood stores, parks and work together with the community to make these accessible.
Stephanie
From Anastasia
April 15, 2007
Disability and Poverty, Disability and Inclusion.
I found the following texts through HEALTHLINK. They raise the issue of disability in the context of Sustainable Development and the UN Millennium Development Goals. The website includes information about projects, networks, links, conferences, and advocacy work. More information can be found at http://www.healthlink.org.uk/index.html
All the best,
Anastasia Nikolopoulou
Cyprus
Disability and inclusion
We work closely with disabled people's organisations to provide access to information; supporting groups to run workshops, developing networks, and researching aspects of disability in development. Our participatory approach has also helped the Department For International Development develop policies and processes to mainstream disability.
Find out more about disability and inclusion in the background reading section
Find out more about our projects below:
Women's disability network in Asia
A network of women's disability organisations has started up in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The first of its kind in Asia...
Make development inclusive
Twelve EU partners work together to mainstream disability for development across the Union...
more
Mainstreaming disability
more
Communicating for Advocacy Project - Describing a vision
more (Advocacy section)
Inclusive communication for disability
more
HIV, sexual health and disability in Zimbabwe - disabled people speak up
Over six months in 2003, disabled people shared their opinions and experience of sexual health and HIV through a series of focus group discussions, which were organised by FACT and the National Council of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (NCDPZ).
more
Self Help and Advocacy for Rights and Equal Opportunities � South East Europe (SHARE-SEE)
The SHARE-SEE partnership aims to build a community of regionally-based organisations in South East Europe in order to lead and contribute to the process of transforming the status of disability. It exists to promote the rights, full participation and equal opportunities of disabled people.
more
Poverty and disability
(excerpt)
One of the aims of the internationally-agreed UN Millennium Development Goals is to halve the number of people living in absolute poverty by the year 2015. As with poverty and ill health, poverty and disability are closely linked, too.
Poor people are more vulnerable to disability for a number of reasons. The conditions in which poor people live and work make them and their children more vulnerable to mental and physical impairments and they are less likely to receive the health care they need. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 500 million people - between seven and 10 per cent of the world�s population - have impairments that are preventable and treatable. Over 80 per cent of these people live in developing countries.
Poor people living with disability are particularly vulnerable to stigma and abuse. For instance, children with impairments may be hidden away at home, they are more likely than their peers not to go to school, to receive less food and to generally be neglected, which makes it even harder for them to find employment when they grow up. People who are poor and disabled are more likely to die prematurely.
See the disability and inclusion section of the Source website for resources;
www.asksource.info
This article was produced by Anna Pattenden for Healthlink Worldwide, in response to requests from our partner organisations. Individuals and organisations are welcome to adapt or reproduce the article provided that Healthlink Worldwide and the individual
European UNION POLICIES RE DISABILITY
From: http://www.healthlink.org.uk/index.html
EUROPEAN UNION POLICIES RE DISABILITY
(excerpt)
> The European Union (EU) is one of the largest providers of development aid,
> with about 55% of all Overseas Development Assistance being provided by
> European Union Member States and the European Commission.
>
> However despite the clear link between disability, poverty and development
> people with disabilities are not included in most of the development
> activities of the EU. Often they are neither explicitly mentioned in
> policies nor considered in development programmes and projects.
>
> The �Breaking the cycle of poverty and disability in development cooperation�
> project brings together 12 EU organisations to promote a coherent and
> coordinated approach to mainstreaming disability in development across the
> 25 European Union Member States, the European Institutions and European NGOs
> working in development and humanitarian aid. The project started in December
> 2005 with funding from the EU.
>
> The project targets two main areas:
>
> a.. Public institutions in the field of development at a policy level as
> well as a planning and implementation level. It includes decision makers as
> well as staff members from Ministries and government development agencies.
> a.. Non-government organisations and disabled people�s organisations. NGOs
> which are active in the field of development to help them mainstream
> disability into their development programmes and to promote an inclusive
> approach to development cooperation. DPOs that are interested in getting
> more involved in development and who want to share their experiences.
> All twelve partners are working to identify existing good practice on
> mainstreaming disability into development at both policy and implementation
> level. At a national level partners are developing methodology and practices
> in different areas to include relevant activities in their plans, which are
> shared with other countries and across the EU.
>
> Project activities include:
>
> Mapping, analysis and development of tools
> A comprehensive mapping exercise across EU countries and data analysis to
> enable partners and target groups to decide on priority areas for
> mainstreaming. A number of training materials and tools will be collated and
> made available on the project website. The themes identified will be
> tailored to the needs and interests of policy makers and development
> practitioners across the target countries and institutions concerned.
>
Anastasia, thanks for the link!
Dear Anastasia, the link you posted is truly important and I am happy to learn the subject is relevant in any part of the world.
Unfortunately, there is a clear link between disability and poverty - hope with the right attitude it can be overcome.
Good News for the Disabled and a Society for All
This is a summary of a very recent article in the Jerusalem Post:
ISRAEL TO SIGN NEW TREATY UPHOLDING DISABLED RIGHTS by Ruth Eglash
Jerusalem Post, 10/3/07
Israel will be signing, on Friday, onto a new international human rights treaty aimed at protecting and furthering the rights of people with disabilities. In Israel, 1.36 million people, or 24% see themselves as disabled.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Diabilities, to be ratified
by 53 countries, intends to make sure that people with mental and
physical disabilities enjoy the same human rights and able to lead lives and make valuable contributions to society in the same way as everyone else.
It covers such rights as: non-discrimination; equal recognition: liberty
and security of the person; accessibility; personal mobility and
independent living; right to health, work and education; and
participation in political and cultural life. Several disability
organizations from around the world pushed for this treaty and have
organized themselves into the International Disability Caucus - a
coalition of 70 international, regional and national organizations.
The full article can also be read http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173879211009&pagename=JPost%...
זהו סיכום של מאמר שהתפרסם ממש לאחרונה בג'רוזלם פוסט.
ישראל עומדת לחתום על אמנה חדשה התומכת בזכויות נכים / רות אגלש 10/3/07
ישראל תחתום ביום שישי על אמנה בינלאומית לזכויות אדם המכוונת להגן זכויות שלל אנשים עם מיגבלות ולקדם אותם. בישראל, 1.36 אנשים, או 24% רואים עצמם כבעלי מיגבלות.
הועידה לזכויות אנשים עם מיגבלות שתושר רשמית על ידי 53 מדינות, מתכוונת לוודא שאנשים עם מיגבלות מנטליות וגופניות יהנו מאותם זכויות אדם ויוכלו לנהל חיים ולתרום תרומה משמעותית לחברה כמו כל אחד אחר.
כלולות בכך זכויות כגון: אי אפליה, הכרה שווה; חופש ובטחון של האדם; נגישות; יכולת לנוע חיים עצמאיים; הזכות לבריאות, עבודה וחינוך; השתתפות בחיי תרבות ופוליטיקה. מספר ארגוני נכים בעולם כולו פעלו לחתיעמת האמנה הזו וארגנו עצמם לועידה בינלאומית לענייני נכים – קואליציה של ארגונים בינלאומיים, אזוריים ולאומיים.
המאמר במלואו נמצא בכתובת:
athttp://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173879211009&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
ملخص حول الاعاقة
نحن ننقاش ثلاث نقاط رئيسية أولاً: هو درجة التقنية العالمية لللدعم المتلقي من الطب والصحة
شئ أخر هو تطور الأحترام الشخصي للإمكانيات التي يحماها الأنسان المعاق
ثالثاً" هو كبر المواطنين طكثيراً منهم سوف يعانون من أمراض تؤدي إلى الأعاقة
ولهذا الإحتياج إلى الدعم والمساعدة سوف بكبر من الناحية الطبية من أجل موضوع الشهر
أكثرنا يلاحظ نوعية الدعم من طرف الجاليات من إسرائيل ,فرنسا, والولايات المتحدة
لان الذين حاربوا في الحرب العالمية الثانية لم يحبو الدعم الذي يستحقونه بغض النظر في هذا
الغير معاقون في إسرائيل لم يعطوا الوسائل لفهم المعاقين مثلا المساواة
فحصنا علاقتنا الشخصية وردود أفعالنا نحو المعاقين ,هتالك أمراه قالت : أنها فؤجئت لرؤية
معاقين في مناصب عالية في فرنسا , وهذا أثر فيها وجعلها تفكلر ثانية في أمكانية
المعاق وتغير وجهة نظرها .
علمنا أن التعليم في إسرائيل يفرق بين المعاقين والغير معاقين وهذا يمنع المجنمع من ملاحظة
وبناء علاقات مع المعاقين
أخيراً بلدان كثيرة تعاني من كبر سن مواطينها ,مشاكل صحية ناتجة عن حوادث
,عوامل بيئية أو كبر السن
السياقة للمعاقين ,عمارات سهلة للوصول وكذالك الأسواق ,الموصلات ,مؤسسات تربوية ,عمرات حكومية
ودعائم أخرى سوف تكون في طلب مستمر
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173879211009&pagename=JPost%...
Stephanie
At last we are moving forward
אני שמחה על היזמה . הגיע הזמן שנהיה מודעים לכך שכל האנשים בעולם תהיה הזכות לחיות חיים מלאים ונורמליים. אמנם התקדמנו מאז ימי הביניים ואיננו מרים את ילדינו הנכים אלא דואגים לרווחתם ופיתוחם המנטלי והפיזי אך לא די בזאת עלינו לדאג לסביבה המאפשות להם להפעיל את כל הפוטנציאל שלהם ולהגיע לאושר אישי.
How wonderful! Now we need to keep going. We have moved past the Middle Ages but we need to enable everyone to enjoy their lives and to contribute to our global society. And we know they can and now we need to give them the chance!
ניכות וניגשות
אני גם מאמינה שיש לנכים את היכולת המספיקה לחשוב
לעבוד, לבצע פעילויות , לדבר ,בצורה ברורה ועמקה .
הנכה הוא בעצם בנאדם יש לו זכות ליגיטימית לחיות , ללכת, כמו כולם.
הדרישה היא שיקבל כול הזכויות שלו אשר החברה תמיד מתנהגת כלפי
הנכה בניגישות ולפעמים קורבי משפחה גם , זאת חברה הורסת ואינה מבליטה
אמפתיה כלפי אחרי במיוחד כלפי נכים.
אני מחברה ערבית שלא תמיד מדברת על זה , זה קשה להביע את זה באופן פומבי
אבל בשנים האחרנות אני יכולה לאמור שיש ארגונים שהשאיפה שלהם היא להושיט יד לזולת במיוחד לנכים כדי שהם יסתגלו באופן מוחלט בתוך החברה .
אבל בעיני זה לא מספיק צריך לפעול ולבנות מקמות מיוחדות לנכים שהיא תורמת להם ללכת למשל לשוק לטוילים
עכשיו העזרה לא נובעת שאתה מרחם על הנכה הזה אלה אתה עובד מהרגשה ואמונה התנדבותית
עכשיו לא מזמן הכרתי בנאדם עוויר מחברה שלי,שהוא בעל אפיונים מדהמים למרות שהוא לא רואה פשוט אני ראוה שיש לו היכולת להתייצב מול החברה אבל בעזרתנו
עוורון סלקטיבי מחברה על הנכה , הדרישה היא שחברה תשנה את הדעות שלה כלפי נכים אשר היא חייבת לקבל אתם כמו הם בלי ביקורת ובלי כפייה ודיכוי
תודה על ההערה בעברית!
ראשית, על כך שאיפשרת לדוברי העברית ליהנות מההערות החשובות שלך!
כמו כן, על כך שנתת לקוראים שלך להעיף מבט במציאות הייחודית עליה לא ידעו.
משיחות שהיו לי עם אנשים ברשות הפלסטינית קיבלתי את הרושם שנכים מקבלים שם את תשומת הלב הבסיסית שהם זקוקים לה (אני טועה?)
אני רוצה לדעת עוד על אנשים עם מיגבלות בחלקים הערביים של ישראל. אני מקווה שתוכליע לעזור לי בכך!
Hala, thanks so much for the post in Hebrew!
First, for letting the Hebrew speakers enjoy your important comments!
Also, for giving your readers an insight to a unique reality they did not know. From my conversations with people from the Palestinian authority I got the impression disabled people got the basic attention they deserved (am I wrong?)
I want to know more about people with disabilities in the Arabic parts of Israel. I hope you can help me with this!
الأعاقة والأضطهاد
انا الأخرى أؤمن أن المعاقين لديهم القدرة الكافية على التفكير والعمل وتحدث
بصورة مبسطة وسلسة وعميقة أيضاً, المعاق أنسان يحق له العيش,والتصرف,والتنقل مثل الأخرين
وان يحصل هو الأخر على كامل الحقوق مثله مثل غيره , وبما أنني أعيش في مجتمع عربي شرقي
الذي يصعب عليه التحدث عن هذه الأشياء ,وهو أيضا مجتمع لا يرحم ولا يرأف بغيره وبالأخص يالمعاقين يمكن القول أن هنالك صحوة وأدراك على ما يعانيه المعاقين لذالك هنالك مؤسسات تسعى لتاهيل ومساعدة المعاقين للتأفقلم داخل المجتمع . بنظري هذا لا يكفي إذ يجب أن نعمل على بناء أماكن خاصة تعنى أكثر بالمعاقبن والتي هي تساعدهم في التنقل مثلا , الذهاب للتنزه والتسوق
إذا المساعدة يجب ان تكون نابعة من العمل التطوعي لا الشفقة على المعاقين
ايضا أود أن أحدثكم عن شخص الذي تعرفت عليه في دورة معينة يوجد لديه قدرات لا توصف بالرغم من أنه لا يرى إذاً اللوم لا يقع على المعاق نفسه إلا على المجتع الذي بطبعه ينبذ وبضطهد المعاقين.
إذاُ حاولوا تغير نظرة المجتمع لتقبل الغير بدون مراقبة,بدون إساءة للأخرين.
دعوة
الكل مدعو للمناقشة المقبلة حول الإعاقة, التي ستبدأ يوم الخميس التاسع والعشرين من الشهر الجاري
شريكتنا في ال ECI جني كيتوف, الكاتبة حول هذا الموضوع والتي هي نفسها معاقة, بدأت موضوعنا هذا بمقالة جيدة عنوانها:
الأعاقة ومجتمع للكل
موقع ميثاق الأرض إسرائيل هو مركز لجالية. نريد أن نكون جالية لعامة المواطنين في إسرائيل وحول العالم من خلال حوار من نوع جديد ... حوار يخلق الجالية.
منتديات ال ECI هم بالأنجليزي, العبرية والعربية وسوف نزودكم بخلاصات متعددة اللغات.
نرحب بمشاركتكم
فيما نتكلم عن الأشياء المهمة,سجلوا أنفسكم بالذهاب إلى " حساب جديد " في القسم الأيمن من الصفحة الرئيسية, بعد ذالك تعطى لكم كلمة السر للأستعمال مرة واحدة فقط.
ثم بإمكانكم إعطاء كلمة سر أخرى التي تناسبكم التي تسمح لكم بنشر آرائكم . لكم الحرية في زيارة موقعنا والمشاركة فيه لتزويد مكتبتنا وقائمة الأسماء .
مرحبا ثانية بالجميع.
بأعمق الاحترمات:
ستفني تانزي وفريق الECI
צוגבלות והחיים איתה...כוח רצון וחשי
אכן החברה צריכה לפעול לכיוון הנגשת מקומות בילוי ועבודה. יש כיום פעילות ניכרת מול הכנסת בהנהגת ארגוני נכים כמו מטה המאבק, שפועלים ליישם את חוק הנגישות היחסית חדש בישראל וכן פועלים לרווחת הנכה בהקשרים רחבים יותר.
אך האדם עצמו, הנכה עצמו, הוא מקור הכוח האמיתי ואם ניקח כדוגמה את סטיבן הוקינג כמדען, שלמרות נכותו הקשה, עושה דברים מפליאים, כמו אפילו להגיע לביקר בארץ, שלאדם בריא נראה כמה בכך, לאדם נכה קשה - זה פרוייקט מאוד מורכב המצריך תיכנון והסעות מיוחדות ויקרות מהשדה תעופה למלון/לבית ולשאר המקומות שהוא הולך בעלויות מאוד גבוהות ודברים נוספים. למרות הקשיים - הוא עושה זאת. כנ"ל דוגמה לסיפור הצלחה שכיכב אמש בערוץ 2 בתוכנית של סיפורי הצלחה, על אדם בשם מאיר שניידר, שנולד עיוור להורים חירשים! ובכוח רצון אדיר בעזרת תרגילי בייטס ושיטה שהוא פיתח בעצמו, הביא את עצמו למצב שהוא רואה ונוהג היום בזכות עצמו! ולמדע אין הסבר לתופעה. כלומר הכוח האמיתי לשנות דברים ומצבים בחיינו, מצוי בנו, קשה ככל שהנכות תהיה ונוראה מבחינת ההתמודדות איתה ביום יום, תפיסת הנכה את עצמו כאדם לא מסכן, שמסוגל לעשות ולשנות, היא המניע העיקרי והגורם שישפיע על הסביבה לשנות דברים כדי להקל על הנכים בכלל, כדי שהשתלבותם בחברה תהיה קלה יותר.
בנוסף חשובה ההירתמות של החברה בכללה להנגשת מקומות ציבור ובילוי והטבת היחס לנכים.
בראש וראשונה, חשוב לדעתי שנכה באשר הוא, לא יתפוס עצמו כמסכן וכ"כלו כל הקיצים" וירים ידיים, אלא למרות המגבלה שיש לו, יפעל להשתלב בחברה, לדרוש הנגשה כשצריך, לצאת לעבוד וכדומה - ככל האפשר. הוקינג ומאיר שניידר הם לא כל יכולים, הם בעלי כוח רצון ענק והם לא היחידים. כן יירבו כמוהם בקרב הנכים. אנשים שבאמת משרים תקווה. זה לא קל לביצוע, ככבד ראייה אני מכיר זאת מקרוב, אך מסתבר שזה אפשרי אם באמת רוצים...
לפני כחודש, קראתי כתבה שעסקה בנכה צה"ל, שהתעוור במהלך שירותו הקרבי, שהגיע למסעדה עם אישתו וכלב הנחייה שלו, לספגטינו ברעננה, והם סירבו להכניסו למסעדה עם הכלב המאולף למרות חוק הקיים בנושא - יחס מחפיר כזה, צריך להיענות בתגובה אקטיבית של נוכחים במקום, כמו איום לצאת מהמסעדה (קבוצת סועדים שהבחינה בדבר)
או צעדים אחרים. כחברה, אנו צריכים להיות יותר רגישים.
Eyal Shapira
ebond@bezeqint.net
052-8565626
Thank you, Eyal. You are 100% correct.
Of course, the example you gave of the blind man is a mirror of what is going on in Israel, and a warning sign to us all.
As Stephanie said, unlocking our potential is the key, and we should support others to do the same...
Unlocking Potential
Unlocking our potential and helping others to do the same -- this is what life is all about. I am about to live in Nigeria and read about an Israeli doctor who discovered the great value of the native African community in healing illness. Respect is really a key issue here.
Stephanie
Human Potential Begins with Human Connections
> The first principle of the Earth Charter reads in part:
>
> Affirm faith in the inherent dignity of all human beings and in the
> intellectual, artistic, ethical, and spiritual potential of humanity.
>
< לאשר את האמונה בכבוד המובנה של כלל האנושות ובפוטנציאל האנושי מבחינה
<אינטלקטואלית, אומנותית, מוסרית ורוחנית.
<
<الاقرار بالإيمان بالكرامة الذاتية لجميع البشر وبالامكانيات الفكرية
<والابداعية والأخلاقية والامكانياتالروحية للبشرية.
<
We live in a very technological-sciencefic-economic world focused on profit not humanism. Yet when I think of Stephen Hawking I see a man with vast potential. We all have vast potential we don't use. I think we need to help each other rediscover ourselves. Reach out and touch someone. And we must teach our children to do the same. And, our children can teach us to do the same. We are one human family, after all.
Stephanie
Summary One
We have been discussing three basic discussion points. One is the level of sophistication of medical and health support. Another is the personal or individual development of respect for the potential of the handicapped. A third is the fact that as many citizens age, more and more people will have related health issues, so the need for accessibility and support will only continue to grow.
On the medical front, because of this month's subject, many of us are noticing what kind of support different communities offer -- in Israel, the U.S., France. It seems that even war veterans are having problems really getting the support they need. War vets aside, all disabled Israelis have to overcome enormous obstacles. and it is clear that the non-disabled Israelis have not been given the tools to help them understand the main problems faced by the disabled: Access and equality.
We examined our own personal relationships and reactions to the disabled. One person said she was surprised to see disabled in leadership positions in a conference in France, causing her to reexamine her thinking and to make a change. We learned that the educational institutions in Israel normally separate disabled students from the rest of the school children. While there is value in this, it also prevents the society from noticing and building the relationships with the disabled.
Finally many countries are facing aging populations. Health problems from past accidents, genetic and simple aging to come to the surface. Driving licenses for the handicapped, proper ramps and accessible shopping, transportation, restaurants, education institutions, government buildings and other support will be in more and more demand.
Stephanie
סיכום - תרגום לעברית
דנו בשלושה נושאים עיקריים. אחד הוא רמת התחכום של התמיכה הרפואית והבריאותית. שני הוא ההתפתחות האישית או הפרטית של כבוד לפוטנציאל הנכים. שלישי הוא העובדה שבזמן שאזרחים מזדקנים יותר ויותר אנשים יפגשו בעיות בריאות, כך שהצורך בנגישות ותמיכה ימשיך לגדול.
בחזית הרפואית בגלל נושא החודש הזה רבים מאתנו מבחינים בסוגי תמיכה שונים שקהילות מציעות – בישראל, בארה"ב, צרפת. נראה שאפילו נכי מלחמה מתקשים לקבל את התמיכה שהם זקוקים לה. בלי קשר לנכי צה"ל, על כל הישראלים הנכים להתגבר על קשיים עצומים. ברור שלישראלים שאינם נכים לא ניתנו להם הכלים שיסייעו להבין את הבעיות העיקריות הניצבות בפני הנכים: נגישות ושוויון.
בחנו את ההתייחסות והתגובות האישיים שלנו לנכים. אישה אחת אמרה שהיא הופתעה לראות נכים בעמדות הנהגה בועידה בצרפת, מה שגרם לה לבחון מחדש את חשיבתה ולהשתנות. למדנו שמוסדות החינוך בישראל מפרידים תלמידים נכים משאר הילדים. יש לכך ערך, אך הדבר מונע מהחברה להבחין בנכים ולבנות עמם יחסים.
לבסוף, במדינות רבות האוכלוסייה מזדקנת. מתגלות השפעות של בעיות בריאות מתאונות עבר, גנטיקה והזדקנות פשוטה. תהיה דרישה גוברת והולכת לרשיונות נהיגה לנכים, רמפות מתאימות, מרכזי קניות, אמצעי תחבורה ציבורית, מסעדות, מוסדות חינוך, בנייני ממשלה ועוד מקומות נגישים.
Disability and Our Society
This is a very interesting topic. I am just back in Tel Aviv from a trip to France -- since we are discussing disability and accessibility I was much more aware of how France makes its environment accessible. I don't much about what Israel teaches in its school or how it promotes awareness. Jenny could you talk a little about this?
Then again, we could get into a discussion about how to stop prejudicial behavior in ourselves and in others.
Thanks,
Stephanie
Welcome back. Unfortunately, not...
Unfortunately, Israeli schools do not promote awareness of this sort - unless things have changed radically over the last few years.
There are separate schools for children with disabilities and this separation ensures an almost total lack of knowledge and understanding to the needs/abilities of disabled people. Quite strange in a society with so many war veterans who are disabled...
Starting from us
Then it seems like we need to be able to create awareness.
As you say we see war veterans in wheelchairs on the streets of Tel Aviv. Recently I was in Washington, DC and stayed at a hotel that was near the now infamous Walter Reed veteran hospital and many of the guests were disabled veterans getting treatments. It seems that medical treatment is one aspect of this "Society for All."
The one you are most concerned with is how to help them with realizing their potential. I was at a conference recently where there were several disfigured or handicapped participants who in fact were leading the conference along with others. This conference was about just that -- living up to your potential, no matter what.
I was surprised to realize that I was surprised to see this! That made me realize that I need to polish my own mirror and really look at everyone with respect, not just compassion. Perhaps it is the same with other minorities as well. Developing a real "Society for All" is about respecting everyone, not just supporting them. What do you think?
Stephanie
Perspectives
I liked what Stephanie had to say about being surprised she was surpirised. I too faced a similar "surprise" a few months ago when I had to visit Asuta Hospital in Tel Aviv, for a medical examination - a scan. The hospital is old and quaint mostly on the ground floor with idyllic gardens - but with steps everywhere. I noticed this elderly wheelchair-bound lady desparately trying to enter the same waiting room. She had to leave her wheelchair at the bottom of the few steps then struggle to pull herself up with the handrail. Her equally elderly husband/brother/caregiver seemingly there to help. But she was quite heavily built and he was kind of not really much help at all. In the end she pulled the wheelchair up herself still holding on to the handrail - quite impressive really.
Once in the "waiting room" the man sat himself down and the lady wheeled herself to the desk which was way to high for the nurse/secretary to see her. She waited patiently for a while and then shouted out. "I'm down here! Would you like to attend me now." The nurse/secretary thought the lady was being rude, possibly sitting in a chair, and said very aggressively, "And I'm up here would you like to stand up and address me properly." To which the lady replied, "I'd love to, dear, if I only could, but if you would care to get off your bottom and look over your desk you will see I'm in a wheelchair. I'm accompanying my brother, over there, who doesn't feel well... would you now mind attending to me. NOW!" Things just aren't always what they apppear to be...
insensitive behavior
Reading this comment about the wheel bound woman shows the dignity of humanity in the face of insensibility. It reminds me of a conversation that I over-heard not long ago. A woman bus driver in Chicago joked about lying that the access ramp on her bus was broken because she was too lazy to let it down. What did it take, a few pull of a lever? Mind-boggling.
Not a funny joke...
Dear Anonymous, you comment about the joking driver shows once again that equipment is not the problem. The solution is in opening one's heart.
Starting from us
There was a recent cover drawing
in the New Yorker magazine that showed a wheelchair-bound American soldier looking up at aflight of steep stairs that obviously lead to a hospital - the American flag and Red cross flag flying in the top right. On the stairs were doctors coming down and going up - reminiscent of the biblical Jacob ladders story and the accompanying angels, only here the doctors were desparately trying to ignore the war vet. For all the advancements in disability rights in America, Americans see they have a long way to go. And Israel is a long way behind America in this field. Israel is only now becoming aware of the problem. Laws are being enacted, public transportation has improved...you now see some Egged and Dan buses that have special ramps for the disabled, etc. Although I've only seen it used once. Public awareness is growing - partly thanks to the work of individuals, ngos and the press. But there is a hugh amount still to be done. War vets aside, the disabled Israelis, all disabled, have to overcome enormous obstacles - and this alone takes heroic strength. But I don't think that the non-disabled Israelis have been given the tools to help them understand the main problems faced by the disabled: Access and equality.
Disability and a Society for All
I have a thousand questions on this article, and really don't know where to begin. I think most people, including myself, have little more than an ancient Greek/medieval knowledge of the disabled. I'm ashamed to say, I really don't know how to react when seeing a person in a wheelchair, or come into contact with the deaf, dumb, blind, or mentally disabled. I wouldn't even know if I'm using politically correct or offensive terminology. I might be a lost cause, but what's being done to change that for the next generation? Would it help to increase awareness of disabilities as a civil rights issue? Is it something that could be/should be taught at school (in civic studies classes?) along with equal rights and tolerance for minorities?
Leslie, welcome to the discussion
First, I want to thank you for your comment. It is very thoughtful - may be too much so... in my opinion, speaking with a person with disability should not require any special preparation or knowledge, not more than communication with a 'normal' one.
'Knowledge of the disabled' does not exist, as such. We are human and should be treated accordingly. Including accessibility.
Thank you, Stephanie!
I do hope this current discussion will be helpful and will assist further understanding, I regard this topic a very important one.
Welcome
Welcome everyone to this new discussion!
Stephanie
Disabilities
Why does the word "handicapped" appear to be more controversial than "disabled?" Why do we have "handicapped parking spaces" vs. "disabled parking spaces?" Is there a "politically incorrect" issue here?
I am not sure I know enough to answer...
English isn't my mother's tongue, and, therefore, my comments will be mostly guesses, but the word 'handicapped' is describing someone begging - for money, I guess. 'Disabled' describes the situation more accurately, and a bit more politically correct, although any attempt to be politically correct today is dangerous...
Will send you an extract from the dictionary Stephanie sent me today. Maybe it will help.
Disability and Society
Greetings All - I recently made the choice to apply for a disability placard which one hangs in their auto to be able to park in a close location to stores, at work, etc. This was easy for me to get from my physician because I am technically disabled due to two degenerative disks in my neck. Parking closer to locations has helped me greatly making it easier to shop and move around. I also haul my laptop computer on a small cart so I no long need to carry it to and from my work location. My neck problem did not show up until last year.
I would like to comment on the following:
"Indeed, why should we supply resources for accessibility of the disabled? Most citizens do not have problems of this sort …"
I agree the majority of citizens are not disabled, but many are probably in my situation or will be soon due to "aging societies" such as Japan and Baby Boomers in the U.S. My particular disability is the result of a severe car accident which took place 30 years ago in which I was hit from the rear by a car traveling 65 mph when my car was at a complete stop as I responded to a signal to stop on a freeway by police. Police were stopping drivers due to bump on the highway. The fellow behind me was not looking. When the accident occured there were no seatbelts, nor air bags, etc., nor was there good diagnostic equipment for neck injuries. Now 30 years later two of the disks in my neck are degenerating and putting constant pressure on nerves in my neck which causes pain, numbness and so forth.
Personally, it is important to me to keep working and I have hope of overcoming my neck problem in the future. New inventions all the time and new treatments as well as self-healing. In the meantime, it certainly makes my life a lot easier to be able to use my disability placard and park close to where I am going. I am thankful such support for diability exists in the U.S.
Constance
USA, Maryland
Dear Michele, Here is what the dictionary says -
The Free Dictionary says
adj.
Physically or mentally disabled: a pool equipped for handicapped swimmers.
n. (used with a pl. verb) People who have a physical or mental disability considered as a group.
Often used with the.
Usage Note: Although handicapped is widely used in both law and everyday speech to refer to people having physical or mental disabilities, those described by the word tend to prefer the expressions
disabled or people with disabilities. Handicapped, a somewhat euphemistic term, may imply a helplessness that is not suggested by the more forthright disabled. It is also felt that some stigma may attach to
the word handicapped because of its origin in the phrase hand in cap, actually derived from a game of chance but sometimes mistakenly believed to involve the image of a beggar. The word handicapped is best reserved
to describe a disabled person who is unable to function owing to some property of the environment. Thus people with a physical disability requiring a wheelchair may or may not be handicapped, depending on
whether wheelchair ramps are made available to them.
2. Impaired, as in physical functioning: a disabled veteran; disabled
children. n.
(used with a pl. verb) Physically impaired people considered as a group:
the physically disabled.
Usage Note: Disabled is the clear preference in contemporary American English in referring to people having either physical or mental impairments, with the impairments themselves preferably termed disabilities. Handicappeda term derived from the world of sports gambling is still in wide use but is sometimes taken to be offensive, while more recent coinages such as differently abled or handicapable have been generally perceived as condescending euphemisms and have gained little currency.·The often-repeated recommendation to put the
person before the disability would favor persons with disabilities over disabled persons and person with paraplegia over paraplegic. Such expressions are said to focus on the individual rather than on the
particular functional limitation. Respect for the preferences of this group calls for observing this rule, especially in formal contexts, but the "person-first" construction has not found wide acceptance with the general public, perhaps because it sounds somewhat unnatural or possibly because in English the last word in a phrase tends to have the greatest weight, thus undercutting the intended purpose.