Two wheelchair-bound citizens arriving at an official welfare office, located on Jerusalem’s Ethiopia Street, were stopped at the door, not by a security guard but by the reality that the government office was not accessible to wheelchairs.

A Yediot Achronot report adds that only as a result of the good-will of a number of chareidim who saw what was taking place did they manage to enter. The passersby lifted the wheelchairs and carried them [with the person seated] into the lobby of the building.

Quite honestly, the two did not really have any business to address in the building, but were on a mission, checking wheelchair accessibility. The two were MK Meretz MK Ilan Ghilon and Yoav Kreim, a leader of the lobby representing wheelchair bound Israelis.

While the Knesset passes bills into law, the state institutions appear to feel they are not compelled to comply. There is a law that demands all government offices must be wheelchair accessible, demanding all new buildings comply with accessibility considerations when constructed. Existing buildings fall under the clause in the law demanding the appropriate government ministry submit modification plans no later than May 1, 2006, a few years ago. Once the plans are approved, modification is to begin to bring the building to comply with the current law.

After being elected to Knesset again, Ghilon decided to become the advocate of the disabled community and is focusing on compliance with existing laws. He explained he is shocked to learn that the ministries are over three years late in submitting plans in some cases, totally ignoring their responsibility under the law and as an arm of the government. Ghilon has considerable difficult walking, deciding to use a wheelchair on Monday for the purpose of his mission.

Accompanying them was Jerusalem Councilman Pepe Alalu. They decided to check three buildings in Jerusalem.

When they arrived at the Interior Ministry everyone was smiles, realizing there are no steps and he could just wheel himself into the lobby. The surprise came a short time after however, when they realized the small elevator could not close with a wheelchair inside, once again leaving him stranded, unable to reach any of the government offices.

They final stop on their itinerary was the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court in the Russian Compound complex, once again realizing there was no elevator and no way to negotiate the massive stairway. The courthouse is not at all accessible, not even a bathroom for the handicapped, which is located in the basement, requiring someone to be carried downstairs.

Ghilon told reporters he plans to increase his inspections and enlist the assistance of wheelchair-bound volunteers, who will travel the country and compose a list of government buildings and agencies, after which he will see to it that he will use all means available under the law to address the alarming situation.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)