Individuals with Intellectual or Mental Disabilities or with Autism are Exempt from Standing In Line in Public Places (Right)

Introduction:

Individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities, mental health issues, or autism are entitled to receive public services without waiting in line, if they have a disability certificate from the National Insurance Institute or the Ministry of Defense showing eligibility

This right is also given to the person accompanying the disabled person, provided he/she is on line on behalf of or with the disabled person

This right is not applicable for services that require waiting in a car or services where there are procedures set as well as additional cases listed below

Pregnant women and senior citizens over 80 are also entitled to receive certain public services without waiting online

For more information, see the: Commission for the Equal Rights of People with Disabilities website

According to Article 13 of Regulations for Equal Rights for People with Disabilities (improving service access) a child or adult with Intellectual Disabilities, Mental Health Issues or Autism are entitled to receive public services without waiting in line.

• This right is also valid for those accompanying an individual with disabilities, as long as they are waiting in line with and for that individual.

Example

If a child with autism and his mother went to the Post Office,they would not be required to wait in line for service.

• Moreover, those accompanying an individual with disabilities can be exempt from paying an entrance fee at at certain public places.
• The disability certificates of people with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, those coping with mental health issues, and those with Autism contain the words "Exempt from waiting in line and exempt from payment for an escort" were added, with no specification of the type or scope of the disability.

Who is Eligible?

• Children and adults with intellectual developmental disabilities, mental health issues, or autism that have a disability certificate from the National Insurance Institute or the Ministry of Defense that lists the right.
• For details on the eligibility of specific populations see the following pages:

• Exemptions when queuing in public places for a person with a Intellectual disability
• Exemption when queuing in public places for a person with Mental Illness|
• Exemption when queuing in public places for a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Instances when there is No Right to Receive Services Without Waiting in Line

• For services provided by appointment made in advance, there is no obligation to give people with disabilities an earlier appointment than others. (Nevertheless, when the appointment is made, the date and the time of the appointment will be made with consideration given to the individual with disabilities and any relevant special needs or considerations.)
• People with disabilities do not have the right to skip the line for services that require waiting in a car.

Example

Individuals with disabilities waiting in their car at a gas station or to enter a national park are not entitled to go ahead of the cars in front of them.

• When the waiting time in line is short, there is no obligation to to provide service to people with disabilities without waiting.

Example

If there is just one person waiting in line before a person with disabilities, and the time required to provide the service to that customer is short, there is no obligation to give priority to a person with a disability.

• Additional cases where the right does not apply:
  • When waiting in line for public transportation.
  • When waiting in line for medical services (except at private pharmacies).

What is a Public Service?

• According to Section 19j of the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law, a public service is any service provided by a public body or in a public place:
  • Public body is defined according to Section 5 of the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law. The list of public bodies includes, among others: government offices and agencies (including all subordinate units and offices), the Knesset, the IDF, the Israel police, local authorities, government-owned corporations, the World Zionist Organization the Jewish Agency for Israel and any other body under the auspices of the State Comptroller Law.
  • Public place is defined according to Section 19g of the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law as a place where services are provided to the entire population or to a non-specific segment of it.

Example

Places in which a person with disabilities and his companion are entitled to receive services without waiting in line:

• On the line at the post office
• On the line to fill prescription medications at the pharmacy (not at the Kupat Cholim)
• On the line to receive a passport at the Population and Immigration authority
• On line to pay at the supermarket

How to Claim It?

• Those eligible will be sent a certificate of disability that says "exempt from waiting in line and payment for the cardholder and someone who accompanies him:"
• The individual with disabilities and/or someone accompanying him/her should go to the person in charge of the line and request to receive the service without waiting in line.
• The person in charge is permitted to request to see a valid certificate of disability in order to confirm entitlement to not wait in line.
• Photo identification (such as a teudat zehut) may also be requested if the certificate of disability does not have a picture on it.

Tip

• According to the court ruling, public service providers are required to provide at least one line or station (payment station) that provides service without a wait for People with Disabilities.
• A public service provider that provides only one station for this service, must put up a large and clear sign marking that station.
• Click here to read a court ruling on this topic.

Please Note

• Pregnant women and senior citizens above age 80 are also entitled to receive certain public services without waiting in line (but a person with disabilities will get priority over them in a place that he is eligible). For more information see:
  • Pregnant Women are Exempt from Waiting In Line for Public Services
  • Senior Citizens above age 80 are exempt from waiting in line for public services

Court Rulings

• Public service providers that only provide one accessible station (for service without waiting in line) for people with disabilities, must have a clear and large sign directing people to that station.

Aid Organizations

• For a comprehensive categorized listing of aid organizations offering assistance and support for people with disabilities, see: People with Disabilities/Aid Organizations.

Government Agencies

• The Commission for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Laws and Regulations

• Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Regulations (Service Accessibility Modifications), 5773-2013 (on the Nevo website) - Regulation 13
• The Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law - Sections 5, 19g, 19j, First Addendum, Second Addendum

Credits

• English translation and maintenance by The Shira Pransky Project.