Access Israel promotes accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities for over 21 years, so that Israel can be an accessible country to people with all kinds of disabilities and in all areas of life.

The topic of education during COVID-19 is essential for all students, teachers and the education system in general; but it is especially critical to students with disabilities.　　

The Covid-19 pandemic created a brand-new reality for education, which is challenging for many but it creates also opportunities when it comes to teaching children with disabilities in the Special Education System and in schools that include both students with and without disabilities.　

• The lack of availability of internet connection.
• The lack of a proper learning environment in terms of furniture and access to computers, programs, technological assistant and assistive programs.
• Remote Learning –Many programs used for remote learning are not accessible for people with disabilities, among them: conferences and trainings platforms, recording archives, digital content, the different video programs – Google class, GSuit, WebX, Teans, Zoom, learning programs, learning websites, learning resources , etc.
• Digital guidelines for teachers, students and parents – The technologies used should have accessibility functions.　
• Innovative learning technologies are often not accessible.　

One of the most important subjects learned in the last 20 years promoting accessibility and inclusion, is that it is necessary to make things accessible in advance, as opposed to make it accessible retroactively. Since the latter creates large social gaps and hurts tens of thousands of students and their families. Moreover, making a software or program accessible retroactively is also much more expensive than making sure it is accessible from day one.　

All the necessary technological knowledge to make the education system accessible is available in today's digital era.　

Access Israel calls for the Ministry of Education to make the necessary decisions and to make sure that every production, editing, and development of new educational resources will be made accessible in advance; that all technologies and software's used will be accessible for all.　

We ask that the Ministry of Education to commit to ensure an accessible learning environment for all students, teachers, and parents with disabilities.