In a world that often sees disabilities as limitations, Alum Or stands as a beacon of hope, championing the independence, autonomy and dignity of individuals with disabilities. It is more than an organization; it is a movement to reshape society’s understanding of people with disabilities and the paradigms that dictate how they must live their lives.
Through education, community engagement and a unique “personal suit” approach, Alumot Or empowers people with disabilities to make their lives their own. At Alumot Or’s professional helm is CEO Ziv Magor, who has over 15 years of experience in disability. “Our main agenda is to maximize the chances of a person with a disability to live as independently and independently as possible,” explains Magor.
Rather than focusing on diagnoses, Alumot Or prioritizes the desires and needs of each individual, recognizing that the need for meaning, connection and purpose is universal. However, the journey to meeting these needs may differ for people with disabilities. By creating a personal path – a “personal suit” – Alumot Or helps individuals achieve autonomy.
Founded in 2015 by Robert Singer, former CEO of the World Jewish Congress and World ORT, the organization operates 16 schools from Kiryat Shmona in the north to Eshel HaNasi in the south. Nine are named after Benjamin Rothman, an Auschwitz survivor, who believed in the power of education to shape a a stronger future for Israel.
Although childless, Rothman envisioned a legacy that would uplift others by building educational opportunities for children with disabilities. Today, each is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through a holistic and personalized approach.
For Dr. Mina Raz, who leads the organization’s Transition to Adulthood program, the focus is on guiding young people with disabilities from adolescence to independent adulthood. “We are among the few in Israel who discuss the fragile transition process from school to the welfare system,” said Raz. “Although it may sound nice, this transition can put students on edge.
This transition is challenging, as many individuals face an abrupt transition from supportive school environments to an under-resourced welfare system. “That’s exactly where Alumot comes in,” explained Raz, “Within the education framework there’s extensive support and a great team. But when they move on to citizenship and welfare, everything turns around.
They go from a protective environment, where they know everyone, to a completely changed reality, which can be traumatic.” Alumot Or’s programs are designed to bridge this gap, helping young people and their families prepare for independence by providing practical skills, such as financial literacy, and teaching them about their rights.
Part of the process of preparing them for independent adulthood is Alumot Or’s innovative financial literacy program that equips students with practical financial knowledge—an initiative rare in Israel’s education system, let alone special education worldwide. “We structured content units with about 12 lesson plans per unit on saving money, spending money and managing finances,” she explains.
Supported by Discount Bank, this program empowers students to understand and manage their finances, a critical skill for independent living. “It’s challenging to bring in a financial expert to teach ninth grade special education students,” notes Raz, “so we created the program so teachers can use accessible language to teach financial literacy.
We hope to fully integrate this program by 2026.” Alumot Or’s impact also extends to education for people on the autism spectrum, led by Dr. Shachar Bar Yehuda, autism specialist and chief advisor on the subject at the organization.
With nearly three decades of career, Bar Yehuda is a respected voice in autism or neurodivergent education and research. “Our education system is one of the best around when it comes to education for neurodivergent individuals,” he notes.
– Good work is being done within the system and Alumot Or is stepping in to help in the areas where small improvements can be made. Alumot Or highlights opportunities and identifies areas where we can help the system and improve it for students, staff and parents.”
A key pillar of Alumot Or’s work is to challenge traditional views of disability. Rather than seeing disabilities as something to “fix”, Alumot Or promotes an environment that adapts to individuals rather than asking them to adapt.
“In the current system, when someone wants to receive services, the first question asked is, ‘What do you have?’ or ‘Show me your diagnosis,’” Magor explained. “We are trying to change this paradigm.” This is a profound shift from the medical model, which historically put the onus on individuals to “overcome” their disabilities.
Alumot Or’s approach is in line with Israel’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which upholds the right to education and community life. The organization advocates for these rights by giving individuals the tools to make their own choices. “They need the ability to make choices and the freedom to make their own mistakes,” Magor argued.
Despite the progress made, Alumot Or faces significant challenges. Magor explained that stigma, ignorance and fear within the wider community can isolate individuals with disabilities, while systemic barriers hinder wider change. “Our schools are like little islands,” he said.
Despite their many challenges, Alumot Or has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to support students, staff and their families in times of national crisis. The recent war has affected many of Alumot Or’s schools, especially those in the north and near the Gaza border.
“In schools like Benjamin Rothman Eshel HaNasi – where we lost Noya Dan, a young autistic girl with unique interests who tragically lost her life along with her grandmother Carmella, when they were killed by Hamas terrorists at October 7 in their home in their house in Kibbutz Nir Oz – everyone there came from border communities and suffered acute trauma,” says Magor. “So we have put aside our agenda for a moment and channeled preferences and resources towards psychological and emotional support for both students and staff.
Bar Yehuda also highlights the unique challenges that arise when routines are disrupted for autistic individuals, who often rely on predictability. In response, Alumot Or created occupational balance tools tailored to different functional levels.
“We focused on creating tools to balance the daily routines of young people, because everyone’s routines were disrupted. While a neurotypical person can adapt, autistic individuals and people with disabilities struggle to do the same, especially without a stable framework.”
Bar Yehuda and his team developed two models of occupational balance—one for low-functioning individuals and one for high-functioning individuals—and created an “occupational diet” that describes what a daily routine should include to help maintain balance and self-protection. “We built this amid sirens and missiles,” he said, “and the feedback from professionals was amazing; they said it was outstanding. It’s now available online, for free.”
Through his work, Alumot Or changes lives and creates a ripple effect that will be felt for generations. Raz put it best: “Our unwavering belief is that young people are an integral part of every process in their lives. We know and believe they can do it.”
Alumot Or’s holistic and compassionate approach shows that disability should not define a person’s potential. As the organization continues to expand its reach, it offers a powerful message that independence, choice and dignity are rights everyone deserves.
In a world still grappling with how to support individuals with disabilities, Alumot Or is a model of how much can be achieved with vision, commitment and empathy. It reminds us that people with disabilities are not defined by “special” needs.
“Success”, concludes Magor, “does not mean winning a Nobel Prize, although”, he smiles, “some can achieve it. “It’s more about working in a job that suits them, having hobbies and eating family meals. It’s about having the ability to choose your own life path.” With Alumot Or at the helm, Israel is moving closer to a future where every person, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive.
This article was written in collaboration with Alumot Or.
