Access Israel is a leading organization promoting inclusion and accessibility for people with all types of disabilities and in all areas of life. Access Israel's award-winning and life-saving initiative Purple Vest Mission assists and rescues people with disabilities and the elderly in times of war and emergency. "With every alarm, my heart stops beating. I hug David and pray that it will be over," says Anat Dayan-Feldman, a mother of three from Ashkelon. Her son David (8) was born with a rare disease and cannot walk independently. The closest shelter to their home is outside the building, and there's no way they can reach it in the required 30 seconds.
A year into the war, with the help of JFNA, CJP Boston, The Federation of Miami, Accessibility Accelerator and other donors, the Purple Vest Mission has evacuated over 3,000 people with disabilities, elderly and their families living in communities under missile attack and without accessible shelter. In addition, almost 2,000 families received assistance through the accessible emergency call center and designated website, including food, equipment, medicine, clothing, mental health help, and much more.
"So far, we have trained over 1,500 Purple Vest volunteers to provide accessible humanitarian aid during times of war and emergency. These remarkable volunteers wearing purple vests come from all parts of Israel and are ready at a moment's notice to provide assistance or to simply call people and let them know someone cares," says Yuval Wagner, Founder and Chair of Access Israel.
The 14-year-old daughter of wheelchair user Hagit Yanko, recently told Access Israel: "Thank you for making me and my family feel, for the first time, that we are not transparent – that someone sees us for who we are and wants to help us!"
As the war progresses, there has been a growing need for Purple Vest Mission evacuations and support in northern cities such as Nahariya, Tzefat, Acco and others that were not officially evacuated. "After conducting a survey of the special needs of people with disabilities in times of war, we improved existing projects and added urgently needed new initiatives for 2024," Wagner explains. These initiatives include:
- Purple Vest Training and Volunteer Cells: Creating local forces that work with municipalities and relevant stakeholders to directly assist and support people with disabilities and elderly. These trainings have been supported by UJA, JFNA, Accessibility Accelerators and other donors. In addition to training, Access Israel has launched in partnership with JDC Israel Beyond Disability a pilot of ten cells in municipalities in the North which will be led by Access Israel with the guidance of the Israeli Council for Volunteers.
- Back to Life: This initiative plays a pivotal role for over 2,000 citizens and soldiers grappling with new disabilities incurred during the current war – instilling confidence, providing tools, and offering essential knowledge to empower them to live independently, integrate into society, and overcome the hurdles that often accompany their newfound conditions. This project is supported by the Jewish Federation of Chicago, Senaca Foundation from UK and others.
- Making the Day After Accessible By Design: This project ensures from the outset that new construction will comply by design with the legal requirements for modern accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities and the elderly.
- Purple Vest 'I Care' App: A vital application matching people with disabilities and the elderly with one of the trained Purple Vest volunteers, to provide an ongoing direct line of empathy and care.
- As Accessible and Sheltered as Possible: In partnership with JDC Israel Beyond Disabilities, a team of experts will go to homes of people with disabilities and the elderly who reside in areas that are under rocket attack and are without accessible shelters. The team of trained experts will try to make the houses as safe and accessible as possible.
- Help You Help Yourself: A multifaceted course trains people with disabilities on how to be ready and how to behave in different kinds of emergencies at home, at work, or in public spaces.
Access Israel is very grateful for the support from the Ministries of Welfare and Tourism, JDC, Jewish Federations, our collaborative partner Accessibility Accelerator, and donors from the USA, Israel and UK that make Purple Vest Israel possible. Even if and when the war will end, there is still a lot to do to ensure that the day after will be accessible and inclusive for all.
For more information and to make tax-exempt donations, visit www.aisrael.org or contact yuval@aisrael.org or jamie@accessibilityaccelerator.org
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