1. Making Education Accessible: the Case of Legal Challenge within the Human Rights Framework Ofek Liyladenu - Israel National Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments Yael Weisz-Rind & Guila Seidel  

2. Years of Neglect and Discrimination
Majority of children study in mainstream schools.
No budget to address children’s needs.
No school books &
materials, and
matriculation exams
in accessible formats.

3. Years of Neglect and Discrimination
Parents required to purchase 2 sets of books.
For parents unbearable demand of time, resources and work to support the children.
School dropouts.
Forced to abandon certain subjects.

4. Years of Neglect and Discrimination
Lack of professionalism and expertise.
No access to materials produced by schools.
No access to matriculation exams in real time.

5. The Road to the Supreme Court of Justice
Law on Equality of Persons with Disabilities (1998)
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)

6. The Road to the Supreme Court of Justice
Advocacy and lobbying
The Knesset: Committee on the Rights of the Child, Education Committee
Ministry of
Education
(MoE)

7. The Road to the Supreme Court of Justice
Survey among parents - desperation and exhaustion.
Legal advice and support - Bizchut, The Israeli Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities.
Steering Committee: fear of repercussions on their children from the establishment.

8. The Road to the Supreme Court of Justice
Identify other lacking areas of accessibility: teaching materials other than books, such as internal school worksheets and exams.
Legal appeal once formulation of accessibility regulations was completed.

9. November 2011 appeal submission by Ofek Liyladenu to the Supreme Court of Justice

10. First Achievements
State accepts fundamental responsibility to provide accessible books.
For the first time - funding guaranteed in the MoE’s budget to produce school books in one of four formats accessible to the children: Braille, audio recording,
digital format and enlarged print.

11. Groundbreaking Success
December 2013 SCJ’s Landmark Ruling
The Ministry of Education (MoE) recognizes its responsibility to provide accessible text books, teaching materials and matriculation examination.
Accessibility is provided in a modular way: use any of the format as well as any necessary combination according to their needs.

12. Groundbreaking Success
December 2013 SCJ’s Landmark Ruling
Providing internal school materials is the responsibility of the school via the relevant teacher.
MoE regulations on schools obligation to ensure accessibility of internal materials and school activities will be published by 1/3/2014.

13. Groundbreaking Success
December 2013 SCJ’s Landmark Ruling
Accessible matriculation examination –MoE to provide exams in either Braille, enlarged print or digital file in real time.
Timing of book distribution to the students: beginning of School year.
Digital files: Israel’s Copy Rights Law 2007 – MoE to prioritize all school books.

14. Groundbreaking Success
December 2013 SCJ’s Landmark Ruling
“this court noted that the petition raised a crucial public issue and the petitioners have a significant role in advancing the solution to the problem. And since most of the petitioners’ claims were accepted by the court the MoE will pay the trial costs of the petitioners.”

15. Further Developments
Improved relations with MoE : better attitude, transparency and cooperation with Ofek Liyladenu.
Challenges and difficulties in the transition period which require our on-going follow up and involvement.
Assistive technology only from year 4 and to a limited number of children.

16. Recent Developments
From September 2016 Assistive Technology from year 1 and increased budget to address needs of all children.
Publication of new MoE Directive on inclusion and integration during outings and school trips.

17. Further Steps Monitoring MoE policies and implementation.
Coalition of Disability Rights organizations lobbying for a complete revision of SEN legislation and promotion of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

18. Next steps Former Minister of Education, Mr. Shai Piron,
meets Ofek Liyladenu’s Children (June 2014).