No magic in this gala

In just a few hours, Aleh will celebrate its "Magical Gala", whatever that means. [Background in my earlier post "A gala to end all galas?"]

I, for one, am at a loss to see any "magic" in what Aleh offers children and adults with severe disabilities. It locks them up in large, isolated institutions the likes of which have been all but eradicated in other developed countries. 

It hogs a huge chunk of government funding available for the population with disabilities - by my calculations based on public records, some 80% or more of Aleh's funding originates in various government departments.

Of course, these aspects will be tidily swept under the carpet at the dinner Aleh donors will enjoy tomorrow. 

Undoubtedly, no speakers will mention that Bizchut, The Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities, recently set itself three goals, one of which (which I translated from the Hebrew) is working "towards the passage of legislation based on every person with disabilities having the right to live in the community with the assistance that he needs".

The first of Bizchut's five "core values" listed [here] on its website is:

"Independent Living - Promoting the right to live in the community and receive personalized services. Bizchut pursues this goal by exposing the violation of rights inside institutions and calling for a transition from institutionalization to independent living. Bizchut is also promoting legislation that will establish the right of every person with a disability to live independently in the community."

There is no doubt that Aleh's "core values" clash head on with mainstream views of care for citizens with disabilities.

Supporters of Aleh - every one of them that I have ever encountered - are oblivious to these truths. I'll wager my last shekel that tomorrow's "Magical Gala" will only reinforce that.