ILAN - Israel Association for People with Disabilities

16/06/2026

🎳 Balls rolled down the lanes and smiles lit up the room!

Last week, members and staff of ILAN’s Beit Hana Center gathered at a bowling alley in Ramat Gan for a fun, accessible day out and a welcome break from routine.

Together, we enjoyed great energy, music, pizza, and plenty of laughter - leaving with renewed strength, joy, and wonderful memories! 💚😊

🎳 Moments like these are made possible thanks to your support. Help us continue building supportive communities, providing meaningful programs, and empowering people with disabilities to live full and active lives. 💚

🔗 https://ilan-israel.co.il/en/support-ilan

07/06/2026

🎾🏆 Roland Garros Champion – Again!

Guy Sasson, an ILAN athlete who trains at the Spivak Sports Center in Ramat Gan, has won the Roland Garros Quad Doubles title for the second consecutive year alongside his partner, Niels Vink of the Netherlands.

The pair defeated Sam Schröder and Gene Woodman in the final, 6–4, 6–3, earning Guy his seventh Grand Slam title.

Following the victory, Guy thanked the fans and the many Israelis who came to support him in Paris, ending his speech with the words:

🇮🇱 "Am Yisrael Chai"

We are incredibly proud of you, Guy! 💚

📸 Photo credit: FRANK MOLTER

03/06/2026

This week marks World Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day 💚

Multiple sclerosis is part of the lives of thousands of people, but it does not define them. At ILAN, we meet people every day who continue to create, work, travel, dream, and pursue their goals while living with MS.

At ILAN Tel Aviv’s Multiple Sclerosis group, members meet weekly for physiotherapy, yoga, and psychodrama. Over time, the group has become much more than a program – it has grown into a close-knit community of friends who also meet outside ILAN for coffee, trips, social outings, and mutual support.

Yinon de Groot, an artist, teacher, and group member, says:
"We are one of the strongest communities of people sharing a common journey that I have ever known."

Their message is simple: It is possible to live with multiple sclerosis – and to live well. 💚

Help us continue building supportive communities, providing meaningful programs, and empowering people with disabilities to live full and active lives. 💚

🔗 https://ilan-israel.co.il/en/support-ilan

31/05/2026

A Meeting of Community and Creativity in Jerusalem 💚

A special event for ultra-Orthodox women with physical disabilities was recently held at ILAN’s Jerusalem branch - a warm and moving social gathering that included a jewelry-making workshop, refreshments, personal gifts, and many meaningful moments of connection and joy.

For some of the participants, it was their very first social activity for people with disabilities. The gathering became a welcoming space where new friendships were formed and a true sense of belonging was created.

“Thank you for a heartwarming gathering that gave us strength and energy to keep going,” one participant wrote emotionally.

04/05/2026

There are no limits to what we can achieve together 💚

Earlier this week, President Isaac Herzog hosted the ILAN ceremony at the President’s Residence, with the participation of outstanding members of our community - including Mona and Yuval Kessler, a mother and her son from the “Galgaley Rishon” dance troupe (one of our three dance groups), and Diana Sneier - a Paralympic athlete from the Spivak ILAN Sports Center for the Disabled in Ramat Gan.

President Herzog said:
“ILAN leads work of immeasurable importance in integrating people with disabilities into all areas of life. This is a multi-generational effort that has led to a deep understanding that disability does not limit one’s ability to fulfill potential and achieve meaningful accomplishments.”

ILAN Chairman, Prof. Alon Domnis, added:
“We thank the President and the President’s Residence for the warm hospitality and the opportunity to hold the ILAN ceremony here - to share and hear about ILAN’s work in Paralympic sports, activism, and rehabilitation. The challenges faced by people with disabilities are significant in routine times, and even more so during war. As Israeli society, it is important that we continue to uphold mutual responsibility - enabling children with disabilities to fulfill their dreams, grow, and allowing every person with a disability to realize their aspirations to the fullest, and to live meaningful, independent, and high-quality lives.”

Photo credit: Chen Galili 📸

21/04/2026

30/03/2026

💚 Supporting independent living – even in emergencies

The Supported Community for Independent Living at ILAN Jerusalem works for people with disabilities.

The program supports around 140 families of people with disabilities. To provide assistance during emergencies, the team contacted all community members, conducted around 80 home visits, and addressed immediate needs such as:
• Adapting shelters for accessibility
• Purchasing special medications and essential supplies
• Accompanying individuals to medical tests and treatments
• Home repairs that enable accessible daily functioning

“We know each and every member of our supported community and can tailor our response to changing needs – even in times like these,” says Idit Gabay, social worker at ILAN Jerusalem. “Our goal is to help people maintain independence, safety, and as much routine as possible.”

In the photo: Our community member, Yoav Aharoni, at the entrance to an accessible shelter

Help us continue supporting people with disabilities and their families, especially during challenging times:
🔗 https://ilan-israel.co.il/en/support-ilan

13/03/2026

💚 A small smile can brighten an entire day.

At the ILAN Jerusalem branch, activity and creativity kits were distributed in recent days to children with physical disabilities and their families, bringing a bit of light and joy to these days and helping parents keep their children engaged while educational frameworks are closed.

The initiative was led by Itzik Mehodar, branch director, and Idit Gabay, the branch’s social worker, who shared:
“We saw how happy the children and their parents were to receive the kits – and especially how meaningful it was for them to feel that someone sees them and is thinking of them even during this challenging time.” 💚

Help us continue supporting children with disabilities and their families, especially during challenging times:
🔗 https://ilan-israel.co.il/en/support-ilan

08/03/2026

💚 Today, on International Women’s Day, even in these tense and challenging times, we believe it is especially important to highlight stories of resilience, partnership, and inclusion.

For more than 26 years, Meira Bar and Aliza Ozer have been dancing together as part of the Hora ILAN Haifa dance troupe, one of Israel’s veteran inclusive dance groups bringing together dancers with and without disabilities.

Meira, who lives with the effects of polio, and Aliza, her long-time dance partner, met in the troupe over a quarter of a century ago. Since then, they have performed together at festivals and community events, sharing a powerful message of accessibility, acceptance, and the belief that everyone belongs.

“The activity in the group is important to me because it shows that everything is possible and helps raise awareness and sensitivity toward people with disabilities,” says Meira.

Beyond the dance floor, the two also volunteer together in kindergartens through the project “I Have a Friend Who Is Different,” teaching children the value of inclusion from an early age.

💚 On International Women’s Day, we salute women like Meira and Aliza - whose friendship, determination, and shared passion remind us that when we move together, we can build a more inclusive society.