Welcome to Access Israel's 7th International Conference

Welcome

We are very excited to have you here with us for Access Israel's 7th International Conference 2019! This year, we have grown in the number of international guests, which we are very happy about. We truly believe that by coming together and sharing knowledge and experience we can achieve more and create a world that is accessible and inclusive for everyone.

This conference is a great opportunity to meet, exchange knowledge, learn about each other's amazing work and built an international network. We are looking forward to get to know our new guests and deepen our friendship with our annual guests.

We have exciting events planned for you in the upcoming days and hope that you will enjoy it.

Transportation to Events:

We organize pickups to all the events that we have planned during these days, so you don’t have to worry about arriving to the events. The buses will leave from the Mendeli Hotel and Dan Panorama Hotel. If you are not staying in one of these two hotels, please make sure to arrive to one of the two locations on time.

Mendeli Hotel: Mendeli Street 5, Tel Aviv

Dan Panorama Hotel: Kaufmann Street 10, Tel Aviv

If you don’t plan to come with the organized buses to any of the events, please let us know, so we know not to wait for you.

Sharon Kessler; k.sharon@aisrael.org Tel: +972-54-6209847

Schedule for the international Guests 23rd - 27th May

08:30 - 09:00 Arrival to the Export Institute and assembling

09:00 - 09:30 Welcome words by Michal Rimon, CEO of Access Israel

09:30 - 09:50 Avremi Torem, Commissioner for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Israel

09:50 - 10:10 Matan Zamir from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10:10 - 10:30 Eyal Cerlin from Ministry of Tourism

10:30 - 10:45 Representative from Export Institute

11:00 - 15:00 Customized meetings*

15:30 - 18:30 Break

*We will send you your personal schedule with the customized meetings in the days before the conference

This year the "Speed dating event" is hosted by Google and will take place in the Google Israel Offices in Tel Aviv.

Address: Yigal Alon St 98, Electra Building, Tel Aviv-Yafo

18:30 – 19:30 Entrance and light dinner

19:30 – 20:30 Welcome word by Google

20:30 - 22:00 Speed dating rounds

22: 00 End of the event and ride back to the hotels

* Enjoy your night at Tel Aviv

Friday 24th May, 2019

During this trip we will visit the Jewish area as well as the Christian area of the city. We will also visit the old city and the Western Wall (Kotel). Visitors are asked to dress appropriate when going to the Western Wall. It is recommended to come with a scarf or a cardigan in order to cover the arms (until elbow length) and legs (to the knees) for women. If you don't have anything with you, don't worry, they have scarfs provided for these situations.

06:30 - 07:00 Breakfast

07:10 Mendeli bus depart to the Dan Panorama Hotel

07:15 - 07:30 Bus　- preparation for departure

07:30 - 08:45 Journey to Jerusalem

2 Trips Options:

• Mount Scopus observation point on Temple Mount-　https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Scopus
• Zion Gate of the old city　(https://www.beinharimtours.com/zion-gate/)
• The Cardo- Crossing the Jewish quarter
  (https://www.rova-yehudi.org.il/sites/the-cardo/)
• Church of Holy Sepulchre　　(https://churchoftheholysepulchre.net/)
• Light lunch at the Christian quarter
  (https://www.beinharimtours.com/christian-quarter-jerusalem/)
• Crossing Via Dolorosa　(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Dolorosa)
• Temple Western Wall - the Kotel (together with group 2)
  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall)

Group 2 – Trip for Experienced visitors

• Friends of Zion Museum FOZ　(https://www.fozmuseum.com/)
• Machne Yehuda Market - Tasting tour　(https://en.machne.co.il/)　　
• The Dung Gate of the old city　(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dung_Gate)
• The Jerusalem Archaeological Park, Davidson Center
  (https://www.itraveljerusalem.com/ent/davidson-center-jerusalem/)
• Temple Western Wall - the Kotel (together with group 1)
  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall)　　

*subject to change

Two Groups Together

16:30-17:30 Ride back to Tel Aviv　(Expected time of arrival to hotels- 17:45)

Pick up from the Hotel: 19:30. Dinner - 20:00 -22:30.

On Friday evening you will enjoy a traditional Shabbat dinner at Yuval Wagner's house.

Saturday 25 May, 2019

Pick up from the Hotel: 10:00

09:45 Mendeli bus depart to the Dan Panorama Hotel

10:00 Both buses depart from the Dan Panorama Hotel

10:00 - 15:00 Tour to Jaffa

15:30 Arrival back in the Hotels

* Enjoy your afternoon, night at Tel Aviv

More information will follow soon.

Sunday 26, May 2019

Pick up from the Hotel: 07:30

• Experiential activities
• Exhibition with accessible technologies and suppliers

• Conference moderator: Mrs. Linoy Bar Gefen, Journalist and presenter
• Mrs. Adv. Michal Rimon, CEO of Access Israel
• Mr. Avremi Torem, Commissioner for Equal Rights of Persons With Disabilities, Israel
• Mr. Gideon Shalom, Senior Vice President, Head of Disability Administration, Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services , Israel

• Mr. Yariv Bash, Co-Founder of SpaceIL, Israel
• Mr. Haim Pinto, CTO of Bank Hapoalim, Israel
• M. Caroline Casey, Ted speakers and founder of #Valuable, Ireland

• Mr. Christopher Patnoe, Sr. Programs Manager, Google, USA- The Future of: AI & Accessibility
• Ms. Sabine Lobnig, Policy Officer and coordinator of the Mobile and Wireless Forum representing 98% of all producers of Mobile Units worldwide, MWFAI, Austria- GARI , Global Reporting Initiative

• Mr. Yuval Wagner, Founder and President of Access Israel - The path to fulfill the goal of an accessible Israel

• Chair: Mr. Amir Halevi, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Israel- Challenges on the way to accessible tourism in Israel
• Mr. Ralf Schliwa, Vice President and Executive Expert Overall Cabin, AIRBUS- Plans for an accessible airplane for accessible tourism
• Mr. Magnus Berglund, Accessibility Director at Scandic Hotels, Sweden- What can we learn from the most accessible Hotel chain in the world

• Chair: Mr. Yuval Wagner, Founder and President of Access Israel, Israel - Creating the DNA of Accessibility
• Mr. Christopher Lee, Managing Director & Chief Learning Officer of IAAP, USA - The IAAP professional certification for accessibility experts
• Ms. Susan Scott Parker, Founder of the Business Disability International & the Global Procurement Taskforce, UK - Models to implement accessibility in businesses

• Chair: Mr. Victor Calise, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, USA
• Ms. Karen Tamley, Accessibility Commissioner of Chicago and board member of the U.S Access Board, USA
• Mr. Stephen David Simon, Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability, USA

• Chair: Mr. Moshe Fadlon, Mayor of Herzeliya and deputy chairman of the Federal Local Authorities of Israel
• Mr. James Thurston, Vice President for Global Strategy and Development of G3ict, USA
• Ms. Simone Brצschke, Ms. Sabine Lobnig, Deputy Director Communications & Regulations, Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF), Germany
• Kristine France, Corporacion Ciudad Accesible, Chile
• Jose Luis Borau Jordבn, Architect, Head of Built Environment Accessibility Department, Spain
• Galia Granot, Vice President of the Ruderman Foundation, Israel - Accessibility Index for Municipalities

14:15 -14:30 Adam Polachek, CEO of Leo Burnett, Israel

• Inclusion in the light of global advertising

• Chair: Martin Essl, Founder of the Essl Foundation, Austria

15:00 Side Event with the Swedish Embassy

Lunch / End of the conference

Feast of the Senses dinner

Pick up from the hotel: 19:30

20:00 – 22:30 Feast of the Senses Dinner

Background on the "Feast of the Senses"

Access Israel offers the program 'Feast of the Senses', an experiential dinner that allows the participants to experience a meal through the eyes of people with disabilities. The meal simulates visual, hearing and physical disabilities and creates a unique experience that changes the perception and understanding one had about people with disabilities. At the feast, participants go through an emotional and educational experience.

The participants are served with three courses; the first course is served while their eyes are covered, the second course while their hands are covered with special gloves and the third while their ears are covered in order to simulate the loss of the senses. During the meal an open dialog is held with people with the specific disability which the participants experience. We aim to enable each participant to get to know the person behind the disability, how he/she manages to integrate into society, their needs and their success stories. In addition, participants experiment with sign language and braille, and learn about accessibility. The dinner is a way to stimulate the senses and introduce participants to experiences they never encountered before in order to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Monday, 27 May, 2019

Pick up from the hotels: 07:30

08:00 – 08:45 Entrance

There will be four rounds of parallel workshops, each 90 mins long. During each round there will be four workshops. Every guests will be asked to choose one workshop for each he would like to join.

_____________________________________________________________________

Urban Accessibility

• Chair of the session: Dr. Revital Shurtz-Swirski, Head of Access Israel North, Vice-mayor and council member in her town Kiryat-Bialik, Israel
• Dr. Orna Eran, Orit Spra- Tubul and Galia Shemesh, Israel- The Accessible City Model of Shoham, from Vision to reality
• James Thurston, Vice President for Global Strategy and Development, G3ict, USA- How G3ict helps to promote accessibility in the world's leading cities
• Liora Schechter, CIO &Smart City Director Tel Aviv Municipality, Israel– Tel Aviv - Accessible Smart City
• Dr. Avi Ramot, Non-Profit Organization Shekel, Israel- Challenges of making the old city of Jerusalem accessible
• Irene Mbari-Kirika, Founder and Executive Director of inABLE, Kenya- Challenges in making a developing country accessible
• Sven Michaelis and Kathrin Bצgelsack, Norway- Mapping Norway –Register and Survey the Status of Accessibility

Accessible Websites & Application led by IAAP

• Chair of the session: Christopher Lee, IAAP Managing Director & Chief Learning Officer, USA - Building an International Community of Websites & Application Accessibility Professionals
• Alon Zakai, Founder and CEO of A-2-Z, Accessibility and marketing in the internet, Israel - 5 Common mistakes in keeping digital organizations accessible
• Ricardo Garcia, AccessiblityOZ, - The most accessible media player in the world
• Lisa Seeman, founder of Athena ICT, facilitator of the Cognitive and Learning Disabilities Accessibility Task Force (COGA), committee member of the WCAG– Making websites accessible for people with cognitive disabilities in the framework of the wcag 2.1
• Taliah Aviran, Accessibility Check in applications, Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA)
• Bruno von Niman, ICT accessibility standardization in Europe - A user centered, accessible and harmonized terminology for current and upcoming ICT devices, services and application.

• Chair of the session: Alan T. Brown, Director of Public Impact, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation - "30 years I dreamed of coming to Israel"
• Magnus Berglund, Accessibility Director at Scandic Hotels, Scandinavia- Examples of accessibility beyond the laws and regulations
• Omer Zur, Paratrek – Nature Trips for everyone
• Vered Sabang-Koren, Vice President of Accessible Education, Non-profit organization Lotem – Accessible tours in Museums and heritage sites
• Rachel Regev, Head of Access Israel Eilat and Accessibility Consultant – Accessibility in the tourist city Eilat
• Vered Sabag Koren, Non-profit organization Lotem, Israel
• Subhash Chandra Vashishth ,Director, Svayam- Global Centre for Inclusive Environments, India

• Chair of the session: Ido Garnot, Joint Israel- Challenges of making the Israeli Public Transportation Accessible
• Ohed Ifrach, Team leader QA
• Victor Calise Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities- Advanced accessibility solutions in New York
• Ralf Schliwa, VP and Executive Expert Overall Cabin at Airbus Group – Can airplanes be fully accessible in the future?
• Michal Shik-Hartuv, Head of the Access Israel's Legal Department- Dealing with the legal aspect of the accessibility solutions for public transportation

Join Googlers to learn about Android, Chrome, Chrome OS, Google Home and Assistant, Google Maps, and recently announced Google products.

• Christopher Patnoe, Sr. Programs Manager
• Henri Fontana, Technical Program Manager
• Sapir Caduri, Software Engineer
• Kiran Kaja, Search and Assistant Accessibility Lead
• Kyndra LoCoco, Programs Manager
• Anastasia Helfinstein, Software Engineer
• Marco Lobato, Interaction Designer

• Nava Kessler, Chairman of the Museums Association and ICOM, Israel
• Emmanuel von Schack, Director, Access Programs, 9/11 Museum, USA - Museum for All: How to Make a Museum Accessible?
• Rose Ginosar, Director of Development and External Relations, Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem, Israel – Transforming Cultural Spaces: Making Cultural Heritage Accessible
• Ben Rotman, artist, Israel - Accessible paintings
• Roni Ankori, Director of Culture and Leisure and the Institute for Cognitive Accessibility, AKIM Israel - Cognitive accessibility in museums and leisure sites
• Veronica Ellran, Israel- Accessible Exhibitions for the blind
• Yfat Kadir, Director of projects and accessibility technologies, Israel

• Chair of the session: Michal Rimon, CEO of Access Israel
• Mariana Moalem, strategic leader of Bank Hapoalim, Advanced Accessibility in large organizations
• Zohar Israeil, Accessibility Consultant, Access Israel – Advanced accessible phone center
• Einav Yaakobi, Product Manager Digital Division Corporation Kan - Making the Eurovision in Israel Accessible
• Dana Kimchi, Project Manager, accessibility consultant, Access Israel – Undercover customer

• Sven Michaelis and Kathrin Bögelsack, Norway- Mapping Norway –Register and Survey the Status of Accessibility

• Chair: Moshe Gaon, YOOCAN
• Adi Mor Biran, marketing manager at Microsoft cloud Middle East and Africa
• More information will follow soon

• Chair of the Workshop: Caroline Casey, Valuable 500
• Martin Essl, Founder of Essl Foundation - Developments of inclusive employment in Austria
• Susan Scott Parker, Business Disability International– The inclusion model of the Business Disability International Forum
• Guy Simchi, Director of Employment for People with Disabilities, Israel -Promoting inclusion in Israel, challenges and success
• Racheli Regev, Head of Access Israel Eilat and accessibility consultant, Access Israel - Making the employment chain more accessible

_____________________________________________________________________

• Rupert Corazza and Marie Gitschthaler , Board of Education, Austria
• Liat Ori, Head of the Education Department of Access Israel - The component of teacher training and the success of integration in the education system
• Howard Blas, director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network, USA
• Ricardo Garcia, Accessibility Oz - Access to individual study materials - as part of the assimilation of accessibility
• Dr. Shosh Nachum, Vice President Senior and Director of the Pedagogical Administration, Ministry of Education
• Einat Meital, teacher and parent, Accessible teaching and personal experience
• Or Alterman and Sharon Gabrielov, Accessible theaters for children on the autism spectrum – Saved seats

• Chair of the session: Sagit Haklai, Buildings, Infrastructure and Environment Accessibility consultant
• Alon Maori, Licensed accessibility consultant and architect - Special Accessibility Elements
• Ivelina Gadzheva, Design For All Bulgaria
• Rama Gheerawo, Director of the Helen Hamlyn Centre of Design at Royal College of Art in London
• Eszter Harsבnyi, CEO Co-Founder of MagikMe - Accessible playgrounds
• Alan T. Brown, Director of Public Impact, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation - Reports from the Christopher Reeve Research Center for Paralysis

Justice for All and Political Participation

• Chair of the session: James Thurston, Vice President for Global Strategy and Development, G3ict, USA
• Karis Elharar, Member of Knesset and lawyer, The legal basis in Israel
• Richard Bernstein, Supreme Court Judge of Michigan, USA
• Dr. Gaby Admon, Commission for Equal Rights for People with Disabilities, Ministry of Justice -Activities of the Commission for Equal Access to the Legal System
• Kjell Stjernholm, Studiefצrbundet Vuxenskolan SV, Sweden- Accesible elections for people with cognitive disabilities
• Matan Bar Noy, Orcam – Pilot of accessibility in elections for people with visual disabilities

There might be changes in the schedule

More Information on Israel and Tel Aviv

Israel is a country in the Middle East its capital is Jerusalem and the official language is Hebrew and Arabic. Israel declared Independence in the year 1948 and defines itself to be a Jewish and democratic state. While the majority of Israelis are Jews it also has a high minority count of Arabs. The most unique places in Israel are Jerusalem Israel capital and a city with a lot of connections to different religions, Tel Aviv Israel more modern city also called "the city which never sleeps, the Dead Sea the lowest place on earth and a sea with high concentration of salt, the salt in the dead sea is also renowned for its health and healing properties and the galilee with its history.

Accessible Recommended places in Tel Aviv to visit

Tel Aviv Promenade: Nothing is quite like taking a stroll along this seaside promenade, breathing in the fresh and salty air of the Mediterranean Sea. Many spectacular sights such as the city's skyscrapers and the beautiful shore can be seen on this promenade.

Jaffa Flea Market: Jaffa's Flea Market, or Shuk HaPishpeshim, as it is called in Hebrew, is filled with unique sights and smells, incredible, restaurants and hotels. The Flea market offers a wide range of shops and restaurants to explore.
https://www.timeout.com/israel/shopping/jaffa-flea-market

Jaffa Port: The Jaffa Port is one of the oldest known harbors in the world. Nowdays the port mostly serves as an entertainment facility incorporating a boardwalk and warehouses hosting bars, fish restaurants and shops. The port also hosts the nonprofit Nalaga'at Centre, home to a deaf-blind theatre company.

Rotschild Boulevard: Rothschild Boulevard was one of the first streets to be built in the city of Tel Aviv. It is located in the heart of the city and is filled with a rich variety of restaurants. The area hosts the main theater and concert hall of Tel Aviv and major financial institutions.

Carmel Market: The Carmel Market is the largest market in Tel Aviv. The Carmel Market is a vibrant marketplace where traders sell anything, from clothing to spices, and fruit to electronics, visiting the Carmel Market is a fascinating thing to do in Tel Aviv.
https://en.shuktlv.co.il/category/carmel-market

Neve Tzedek: Neve Tzedek might be one of Tel Aviv’s oldest districts. Neve Tzedek was the first Jewish neighborhood outside of the old port city of Jaffa. In recent times the district has been going restoration works that have taken it to its former glory. Nowdays, you can explore Neve Tzedek to a variety of intriguing shops and restaurants.

Tel Aviv Museum of Art: The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is Israel's largest museum. The museum shows the works of both Israeli and international artists including impressionism and post-impressionism. Permanently on display include the works of Cezanne, Chagall, Dali, Monet, Henri Moore, Auguste Rodin, Archipenko, Picasso, Klimt, Kadinsky
http://www.tamuseum.org.il/

Sarona: Sarona, once a German Templar colony, is a newly renovated beautiful complex in the heart of Tel Aviv, at the heart of new central business district. Sarona offers a unique shopping experience and houses many diverse restaurants.

Tel Aviv Port: Tel Aviv Port has recently been restored and is now one of the hottest places in town. During the day, the cafes and stores at Tel Aviv Port offer you an enriching experience, and if that's not enough, the port is also one of Tel Aviv’s most popular nightlife venues.

https://www.timeout.com/israel/attractions/a-day-at-the-tel-aviv-port

Hilton Beach: Hilton Beach is a well-known beach in Tel Aviv, one of the most popular amongst locals and tourists alike. The beach is also an excellent choice for those looking to surf, suntan, and swim. The Hilton beach is located in front of the Hilton hotel on the northern part of the boardwalk. All the beaches in Tel Aviv are accessible

https://www.timeout.com/israel/attractions/the-best-beaches-in-tel-aviv

https://www.timeout.com/israel/attractions/hamaravi-beach-the-maravi

Touring the Tech Distriv of Tel Aviv
https://www.timeout.com/israel/news/touring-the-tech-district-of-tel-aviv-041519

Sarona Market: Sarona Market is an extraordinary culinary center in Tel Aviv. The market boasts over 100 business, including 40 eateries, and tens of fine food stalls, and offers a distinct culinary experience.
http://saronamarket.co.il/en/%D7%A2%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93-%D7%94%D7%91%D7%99%D7%AA

Tel: +972-8-9203070 / +972-50-8090624
Info@ez-4u.co.il

If you need any help, contact Access Israel for assistance
Contact on the end of the page

Basic Hebrew Sign Language

 

Important Contacts:

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

Michal Rimon, CEO of Access Israel 
P: +972 - 549700760
@: michal@aisrael.org

Yuval Wagner, Founder and President of Access Israel
P: +972 - 544436456
@: yuval@aisrael.org

Rani Benjamini, Treasurer
P: +972 - 4275175
@: rani.b27@gmail.com

Michal Fruchtman, Resource Development and External Relations
P: +972 - 508800900
@: fruchtmichal@aisrael.org

Sharon Kessler, Resource Development and external Relations
P: +972 - 546209847
@: k.sharon@aisrael.org

Efrat Katash
P: +972 - 524554966
@: efkatash@aisrael.org