The Clinic for the Rights of the Mentally Disabled
The clinic operates in collaboration with Akim, the National Association for the Habilitation of the Mentally Handicapped in Israel, which promotes the rights of the handicapped on various levels.
Academic Supervisor
Dr. Neta Nadiv
Program Director
Adv. Irit Gazit
Some 34,500 Israelis suffer from various intellectual disabilities across the developmental spectrum. From a very young age and throughout their adult lives, these people and their families face a daily struggle with bureaucracy, as many of them are unaware of their options and rights under the law. Many of these families also encounter great difficulties and complex procedures when they try to realize their rights.
The clinic operates in collaboration with Akim, the National Association for the Habilitation of the Mentally Handicapped in Israel, which promotes the rights of the handicapped on various levels, including legislative initiatives in the Justice Ministry and the Knesset, High Court of Justice petitions, and other platforms.
The Intellectual Disability Rights Clinic, which is the first of its kind in Israel, focuses on the following:
- Assisting Akim attorneys in providing intellectually-disabled individuals and their families with detailed information and counseling.
- Providing intellectually-disabled individuals and their families with guidance on a variety of daily issues, such as guardianship petitions, National Insurance Institute benefits claims, special education provisions, etc.
- Drafting and promoting new legal measures by which these rights can be exercised, including written applications to government bodies.
- Offering specific counsel to intellectually-disabled individuals via weekly meetings with the students, who guide them on their rights and on self-advocacy.
Students participating in this program will be divided into two groups, one focusing on providing the families with legal aid, and the other working directly with intellectually-disabled individuals in hostels.
Students will be supervised and guided by Akim attorneys and professionals, who specialize in providing information, assistance, advice, and research in this field. Student participating in this clinic will have the opportunity to influence and improve the quality of life of people suffering from intellectual disabilities and their families.
As part of the clinic's theoretical aspects, students will become familiar with the rights of the intellectually disabled, community and legal empowerment, judicial accessibility for disadvantaged populations, disabled individuals and social exclusion, welfare policies, housing options in the community, and more.
Students will visit frameworks available to the intellectually-disabled, meet parents, hear personal stories, see a theatrical performance by a group of intellectually-disabled actors, and more. Students will be required to participate in an academic simulation and present their arguments.
As part of the clinic's practical aspects, students will staff the Akim call-center, as well as meet with families at the Akim offices in Tel Aviv, and with disabled individuals in hostels.
Admission requirements
The program caters to third-year students and over. Admission is conditioned on a personal interview.
Academic outline
The clinic awards students with six semester hours, including 45 academic teaching hours. Students are required to undergo one-week preliminary training. The clinic includes a four-hour weekly practicum, across one calendar year.
For more information and to apply please contact: noa.bs@akim.org.il