Inclusive Education on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a vital reminder that a just society makes room for every individual to participate fully in community life. For schools, it is a powerful opportunity to ask how education can either reinforce stigma or open doors to equal opportunity, and to teach that inclusion is not an act of charity but a core democratic value.

Within this framework, Amal emphasizes the responsibility of high schools to cultivate empathy, compassion and informed citizenship among all students. By examining how everyday actions in the public sphere, on social media, in the classroom, on public transport, can exclude or empower people with disabilities, students learn that citizenship is measured by how society treats its most vulnerable members. In the aftermath of the war in Gaza and six years of instability in Israel, Amal’s educational staff also encounter growing signs of post-trauma, anxiety and violence in schools, recognizing that these often-invisible conditions are another form of disability that demands careful, professional attention.

Across roughly 50 schools throughout Israel, Amal runs dedicated frameworks for students with diverse special needs, grounded in the belief that every young person can succeed when conditions are adapted to their abilities and challenges. These include small autism classes of about five students, each with a personal tutor and an individual learning plan that often enables them to complete matriculation (Bagrut) requirements. Amal also operates communication or “Mabar” classes for students with severe concentration or communication difficulties, and specialized frameworks for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, particularly in Bedouin communities in the south, where adapted materials and trained staff enable full participation in school life.

Amal’s vision is clear: every student, regardless of background, visible or invisible disability or social circumstances, has unique potential, and with the right support each can excel in a chosen field. Turning this vision into reality requires specialized professionals, adapted learning environments and continuous training for school staff, especially as they respond to the psychological impact of prolonged conflict and instability on students. On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Amal calls on its partners, donors and friends to help expand these inclusive frameworks so that more children who struggle with learning, behavior or emotional distress receive the support they need to learn, grow and thrive.