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Disabled Israeli Youth Enlist in the IDF

(Jerusalem Post) Anna Ahronheim - On Thursday three young Israelis with special needs enlisted in the IDF as part of its "Special in Uniform" program that integrates young people with autism and other disabilities into the army and, later on, into Israeli society. As of September 2016, over 200 male and female soldiers with special needs serve in the IDF. Omer Lahat, 21, was born with severe cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. After he approached Lt. Col. (ret.) Ariel Almog, who founded the program, Almog recruited him to do voluntary service at an Air Force base where, every Monday for a year and half, he worked on dismantling old helicopters to send for recycling. On Nov. 2, Deputy Defense Minister MK Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan informed Omer that he had finally been approved for recruitment. "The IDF is the only army in the world which accepts people with these types of disabilities; it opens its doors, and gives them the opportunity to serve, to wear the uniform and really feel part of the army," Ben-Dahan said.
2016-12-23 00:00:00
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