Blindness and Visual Impairment

This portal contains extensive information regarding the rights of the blind and visually impaired.

In Israel there are thousands of people suffering from visual impairment. Many of them are recognized as blind and visually impaired. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services issues a Certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment, which entitles the holder to various rights and benefits detailed in this portal.

General

• Definition of Blindness
• Certificate of Blindness/Visual Impairment
• Advising and guidance for visually impaired youth
• Appeals Committee for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Determining Disability for Defective Vision and Eye Diseases

Benefits

• Disabled Child Benefit for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Disability Pension and Related Benefits
• Special Services Benefit (Attendance Allowance) for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SHARAM)
• IADL Test Checking Entitlement to Allowance for Special Services
• Guide Dog Allowance
• Allowance for the Blind/Visually Impaired
• Long-Term Care Benefit
• Exemption from ADL Test for Long Term Care

Parents of Blind Children

• Income Tax Credit Points for Parents of Blind Children
• Disabled Parking Permit and Exemption from License Fee
• Discount on Bezeq Telephone Fees for Blind and Visually Impaired Children
• Sick Days for Parents of Blind Children

Guide Dogs

• Guide Dogs for the Blind
• Guide Dog Allowance
• Guide Dogs for Victims of Hostile Acts

Assistive Devices

• Assistance Purchasing Assistive Devices for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Assistance Purchasing Braille Assistive Devices
• Assistance Purchasing Rehabilitation Devices for the Blind and Visually Impaired

• Azarim - Vision assistive devices (in English)
• Smartphone, Computer, and Electronic Device Service and Support Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Computers

• Assistance Receiving a Work Station for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Computer Station Lending Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Computer Station Modification for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Learning and Using Computer Equipment for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Smartphone, Computer, and Electronic Device Service and Support Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Technical Support Call Center, using special technology, for using the National Insurance Institute Website - *5048

Accessibility and Mobility

• Accessibility
• Accessibility for the Blind and Visually Impaired on Public Transportation
• Accessibility for the Blind and Visually Impaired on Trains
• Allowance for the Blind/Visually Impaired
• Discounts on Bus Travel for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Train Travel Cost Exemption for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Travel Expenses for Blind Victims of Hostile Acts
• Disabled Vehicle Permit for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Allotment and Marking of a Parking Spot for a Blind Person Close to his/her Home

Employment, Vocational Rehabilitation and Job Placement

• Information and Advising Stations for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Professional Rehabilitation and Educational Assistance for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Rehabilitation Centers for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Job Placement for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Sheltered Employment for the Blind and Visually Impaired

In the Workplace

• Workplace Accommodations for Employees With Disabilities
• Assistance Receiving a Work Station for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Computer Station Lending Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Sheltered Employment for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Avoda L'Ofek Program for youth during the summer vacation

Preschool and Daycare

• Therapeutic Daycare for Blind and Visually Impaired Children
• Rehabilitative Kindergartens for Blind and Visually Impaired Children
• Integration of Blind and Visually Impaired Preschool-Age Children into Regular Frameworks

School

• Accessibility for blind and visually impaired schoolchildren
• Therapeutic Schools for Blind and Visually Impaired Children
• Extended School Day (TAGIL) for Blind and Visually Impaired Children
• Support Teacher for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
• Batei Talmid - Special Educational Framework for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
• Accommodations in order to integrate disabled students on trips and activities outside of school

Matriculation Examination (Bagrut) and the Psychometric Examination

• Matriculation Examination (Bagrut) Accommodations
• Academic Preparatory Program for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Preparatory Course for the Psychometric Examination
• Psychometric Examination Accommodations

Higher Education

• Academic Preparatory Program for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Higher Education for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Support Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
• Tutoring for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
• Reading Hours for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
• Assistance Receiving a Work Station for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Computer Station Lending Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Assistance for Blind and Visually Impaired Students

Functional Rehabilitation

• Low Vision Rehabilitation
• Low vision rehabilitation at Migdal Or
• Rehabilitative Training for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Instructional Living for Blind and Visually Impaired Youth
• Assistance Purchasing Assistive Devices for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Guide Dogs for the Blind
• Guide Dogs for Victims of Hostile Acts

Emotional and Social Support Services

• Mentoring for Blind Children and Children of the Blind
• B'GOVA AYNAIM - Activities for Visually Impaired/ Blind Youth
• NOAR B'YACHAD - Activities for Visually Impaired/ Blind Youth
• Multi-Service Center for the Blind (MARSHAL):
• Multi-Service Center for the Blind (MARSHAL) - Haifa
• Self-Help Groups for the Blind and Visually Impaired (KALA)
• Social Clubs for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Discounts and Exemptions

• Radio and Television Fee Exemption for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Reduced License Fee for Disabled Parking Permit Holders
• Discount on telephone fees
• Exemption from Mail Delivery Costs for the Blind
• Municipal Preschool Discount for Parents of Blind Children
• Discount on Marriage Registration Fees at the Rabbincal Council (Rabbanut)

Additional Rights and Benefits

• Treatment Centers for Blind and Visually Impaired Toddlers
• Interpreting Services for the Deaf-Blind
• Libraries for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Dental Care for the Blind and Visually Impaired funded by "L'maan Ha'Iver" in Herziliya
• Vacation and Entertainment Programs for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Sports Activities for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Limitations on the seizure of blind and visually impaired people's assets
• Representation by a public defender during criminal proceedings

Taxes

• Income Tax Exemption for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Income Tax Credit Points for a Non-Working Spouse
• Income Tax Credit Points for Parents of Blind Children
• Purchase Tax Discount for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Customs and Purchase Tax Refunds for the Blind/Visually Impaired
• Municipal Property Tax (Arnona) Discount for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Municipal Property Tax (Arnona) Discount for Parents of Blind Children

Housing

• Municipal Property Tax (Arnona) Discount for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Assistance Purchasing Housing (Mortgage) for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Rental Assistance for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Purchase Tax Discount for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Exemption for the Blind and Visually Impaired for payment to the Israel Lands Authority
• Municipal Property Tax (Arnona) Discount for Parents of a Child with Disabilities
• Beit Ofek - Sheltered Housing for the Deaf and Blind

Migdal Or Services

• Vocational Assessment at Migdal Or
• Vocational Training at Migdal Or
• Job Placement Through Migdal Or
• Migdal Or Factory
• Smartphone, Computer, and Electronic Device Service and Support Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Functional Rehabilitation for the Elderly

• Visual Rehabilitation for the Elderly Blind in Nursing Homes
• Rehabilitative Training for the Elderly Blind in Nursing Homes

Volunteering

• National Civil Service for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Aluma Program)
• Shiluv Menatzeach - Integrating Young People with Disabilities into the IDF

Blind Victims of Hostile Acts

• Home Equipment Grant for Blind Victims of Hostile Acts
• Reading Hours Allowance for Blind Victims of Hostile Acts
• Travel Expenses for Blind Victims of Hostile Acts
• Guide Dogs for Victims of Hostile Acts

Eyeglasses

• Eyeglasses for a Nominal Fee from the Re-Specs Organization
• Discounted Eyeglasses from the Foundation Optical Center
• Free eyeglasses for needy Holocaust survivors
• Free/discounted eye exams and eyeglasses for Holocaust survivors
• Glasses for those who suffered workplace injuries

Aid organizations

• For a comprehensive categorized listing of healthcare organizations offering assistance and support for the blind and visually impaired, click here.
• For a comprehensive categorized listing of healthcare organizations offering assistance and support see: People with Disabilities/Aid Organizations.

Government agencies

• Services for the Blind - Rehabilitation Branch - Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services
• Ministry of Education - Supervision of Blind and Visually Impaired Students' Education
• The Commission for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor – The Office for the Integration of People with Disabilities into the Workforce
• The National Insurance Institute

Court Rulings

• Compensation of 10,000 NIS awarded to a blind woman whose cab driver refused to allow her seeing eye dog into the cab

Laws & Regulations

• List of laws and regulations related to the rights of the blind - from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services website
• The Prohibition of Discrimination Against Blind People Accompanied by a Guide Dog Law
• The Welfare Services Law
• Welfare Services Regulations (Need Criteria) - Section 4: Receiving a Certificate of Blindness
• Welfare Services Regulations (Care of the Needy)
• The Integration Law

Additional publications

• Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services - Guide to Rights and Services for the Blind in Israel (available in Hebrew, Arabic, Amharic and Russian)
• Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services - Rehabilitation Branch: Guide for Those Employing a Blind Worker with a Guide Dog

Credits

• Original information regarding the blind and visually impaired was primarily based on the Guide to Rights and Services for the Blind in Israel from the Blind Services Department (Rehabilitation Branch, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services), and was uploaded to the site with the assistance of Blind Services Department grant recipients.
• Original translation performed by The Shira Pransky Project as part of a grant from The Fellowship Fund.