This portal contains information regarding the rights of the deaf and those who suffer from hearing loss as well as how to claim them.
More than ten percent of the population suffers from hearing loss that manifests by partial or complete loss of the ability to hear. Every third person over 65 is hard of hearing. Hearing loss affects all segments of the population and all socioeconomic groups. A hearing impairment can make it difficult for people to communicate and integrate into society and it may expose them to various risks as well. Accordingly, there are a wide range of rights and relevant services for the deaf and hearing impaired population. (Some of these rights depend on the degree of impairment, as detailed on those specific pages, and some are not dependent on it.)
Benefits and Discounts
Aid
- Communications Basket for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired - Reimbursement for the purchase of assistive devices
- Assistance Funding Hearing Devices for Children
- Assistance Funding Hearing Devices for Adults
- Assistance Funding Hearing Devices for People Age 65 and Older
- Pagers (Beepers) for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
- "Simanim BaMashber" - Application for use in Emergency Situations for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
- Reimbursement for Baby Monitors Purchased by Parents with Hearing Impairment
- Tax Refund for Fax Machines Purchased by the Hearing Impaired
- Subsidized Hearing Devices from the Foundation Optical Center
- Hearing Implants
- Hearing Implant Funding
- Azarim's English website - Assistive hearing devices
Children and Youth
- Communication Therapy Services for Children with Hearing Impairment
- Disabled Child Benefit for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
- Rehabilitative Daycare for Toddlers with Hearing Impairment
- Integration of Toddlers with Hearing Impairment into Regular Daycare
- Training for Integration of Toddlers with Hearing Impairment into Daycare
- Assistance Funding Hearing Devices for Children
- Supportive Therapies for Children with Hearing Impairment
- Rehabilitation and Youth Center for Children and Adolescents with Disabilities Living in the Community
- Retreats for Children and Adolescents with Sensory Impairments
- Discount on Bezeq Telephone Fees for Disabled Child Benefit Recipients
- Income Tax Credit Points for Parents of a Deaf Child
- Shiluv Menatzeach - Integrating Young People with Disabilities into the IDF
Education
- Special Education and Integration into Regular Education
- Rehabilitative Daycare for Toddlers with Hearing Impairment
- Integration of Toddlers with Hearing Impairment into Regular Daycare
- Training for Integration of Toddlers with Hearing Impairment into Daycare
- Making Preschools and Classrooms Accessible for Children with Hearing Impairment
- Early School Registration for Accessibility Modification Purposes
- Assistance for Schoolchildren with Hearing Impairment
- Matriculation Examination (Bagrut) Testing Accommodations for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children Learning in Special Education
- Presence of a Sign Language Interpreter in an Expulsion Hearing
- Support Services for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Students in Higher Education
- Accommodations in order to integrate students with disabilities on trips and activities outside the school
- Accommodations for Students with Special Needs on the Meitzav Exams
Translation and Accessibility Services
- Interpreting Services for the Hearing Impaired
- Interpreting Services for the Deaf-Blind
- Information from the National Insurance Website through a Video Call with a Sign Language Translator]
- Institutions that are accessible for the hearing impaired from the Bekol website
- Access to crisis centers for those suffering from sexual abuse, through email, whatsapp and chat on The Association of Rape Crisis Centers' website. For information in English click here
- Center for Communication Mediation run by the Institute for the Advancement of Deaf Persons in Israel
Employment
Housing
Additional Rights and Services
Aid organizations
For a comprehensive categorized listing of healthcare organizations offering assistance and support to people with disabilities, click here.
The following organizations offer assistance to the deaf and hearing impaired:
- Bekol
- Beit MICHA - Society for Deaf Children
- MICHA Tel Aviv - Multidisciplinary Center for Children with Hearing Impairments
- MICHA Haifa and the North
- MICHA Jerusalem
- Shema - Center for Education and Rehabilitation of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth
- The Association of the Deaf in Israel
- The Institute for the Advancement of Deaf Persons in Israel
- The Beth David Institute - The Center for Deaf-Blind Persons
- The Optical Vision Foundation
- Mishaul - The Center for Supportive Communication and Rehabilitative Technology
- ASACH - The Israel Deaf Sports Organization
- Shemaya – Educational Program for the Hearing Impaired
- Shema Kolenu
- Give a Hand to the Deaf and Disabled
- AV Israel
- Signpedia - Israeli Sign Language Dictionary
- LISTEN – A Website for Parents of Hearing Impaired Children
Government agencies
- The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services
- The Ministry of Health
- The Ministry of Education - Supervision of Education for the Hearing Impaired
Court Rulings
- A job candidate disqualified due to a hearing impairment is entitled to compensation
- Compensation for a job candidate who was not given a position because he wore a hearing device
- Hearing impairment is recognized as a work injury if there is hearing loss of at least 20 dB
Laws & Regulations
- The Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law
- The Television Broadcasting Law (Subtitles and Sign Language)
- Deaf Persons Relief Law
- Provision 5.7 of the Social Work Regulations: Communication Services for the Hearing Impaired
- Appendix to Regulation 5.7 -
Communication Services Allowance
Additional publications
- The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services website: Rehabilitation of the Deaf
- Sela website: Rights for the deaf and hearing impaired
Credits
- Original translation performed by The Shira Pransky Project as part of a grant from The Fellowship Fund.