Jul 9, 2025

Supporting People With Disabilities During Emergencies

Federation is helping Israelis with disabilities find shelter during wars, terror attacks and more. When emergency sirens blare in Israel, most people run quickly to safety, but for those with disabilities, this may be impossible. “Forty-two percent of people with disabilities in conflict zones lack access to protected spaces,” said Michael Lawrence, Chief Advancement Officer of Federation’s longtime partner, Beit Issie Shapiro. “For many, there are no elevators, no ramps and no reinforced rooms they can reach in time. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing, alerts are not reliable.” To address this last concern, Beit Issie Shapiro worked with other organizations to develop a “smart” bracelet that vibrates when an air-raid siren goes off and then again 10 minutes later to indicate it is safe to leave the shelter. In addition, the nonprofit launched emergency support hotlines to train therapists who regularly work with people with disabilities on how to provide support for physical and mental health challenges during wartime.