Disabled, Not Half a Human Being

Non-governmental organization

Disabled, Not Half a Human Being is an Israeli Non-governmental organization (a voluntary association) which works for the rights of people with disabilities in the State of Israel. Its main goals are raising the general disability allowance and equalizing it to the minimum wage, advancing the issue of accessibility, advancing the right to housing for disabled people, nursing, proper medical treatment and integration of people with disabilities into society and employment.

Disabled, Not Half a Human Being
נכה, לא חצי בן אדם
Disabled, Not Half a Human Being logo
Logo of the "Disabled, Not Half a Human Being" organization
HeadquartersYavne [en]
Location
Staff
Alex Fridman
Hanan Tal
Amit Halamish

History change

The organization was established in April 2016, as a part of a national campaign whose name was "Disabled, Not Half a Human Being", which had begun in January 2015, as a protest to the wear of the disability pension in Israel for more than 15 years. The association is a member of several social forums as "The Forum for the Struggle Against Poverty",[1] "The Forum for the health advancement of people with disabilities", and the national committee for advancing the rights of people with disabilities in the Israel Bar Association [en].

Founders change

The founder and chairman of the association is Alex Fridman [en], a wheelchair-bound man who has a muscular dystrophy which is SMA, a social networking screenwriter.

In January 2015 Fridman decided to establish the association after hearing about a woman with a disability who tried to commit suicide as a result of her economic distress, and began a strategic campaign under the slogan "Disabled, Not Half a Human Being" to raise the Disability pension in Israel.

The other founders are CEO Hanan Tal,[2][3] Advocate Amit Halamish,[4] and Head of Research Asher Rochberger.[5]

Activities of the Association change

  • Online social networking activity (as of March 2018 – the Facebook page of the association has 70,000 followers).
  • Conducting shows and conferences with the participation of Public opinion leaders.[6]
  • Lectures in educational institutions.
  • Lobbying and legislation in the Israeli Knesset.
  • Individual counseling and assistance for people with disabilities.
  • On September 4, 2017, Semion Grafman[7] appeared in a video clip with Fridman and Tal. In this clip, Grafman and Tal got whole dishes, but Fridman was served with half of a fish and half of a beer glass. When Grafman asked where the restaurant's owner was, the waiter replied that it was not related to the place, but was the policy of Israel government.[8]

Outstanding Achievements change

  • An addition of 300 million ILS to the budget of disabled in the Arrangements Law of 2017.
  • Passing a law in the amount of 4.34 billion ILS to raise the disability pension in 2018.[9][10]

See also change

References change

  1. Niv Elis (August 14, 2016). "Forum for Combating Poverty says budget plans fall short". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  2. "Hanan Tal". Facebook. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  3. Niv Elis (August 24, 2016). "Handicapped protesters block highway to make demands heard". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 22, 2018. Hanan Tal, CEO of NGO "Disabled, Not a Half a Human Being".
  4. "Amit Halamish". Facebook. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  5. "Asher Rochberger". Facebook. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  6. Mor Levi (June 21, 2016). "The Disabled in a new Campaign: Choose between food and medicine? The allowance has to be raised". Mako (in Hebrew). Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  7. "Semion Grafman". IMDb. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  8. Semion Grafman (September 4, 2017). "Think like me? Share!". Facebook (in Hebrew). Length 1:40 minutes. Retrieved December 6, 2018. He is disabled, he deserves half!
  9. Amir Alon and Yael Friedson (September 18, 2016). "Special Knesset recess debate held on disability benefits". Ynetnews. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  10. Lidar Gravé-Lazi and Lahav Harkov (February 13, 2018). "Knesset passes bill for NIS 4.34 billion increase in disability allotments". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 22, 2018.

External links change