Broadening Professional and Interpersonal Horizons
Abbass Abbass from Israel, who is legally blind, participated in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). During his program, which focused on “Accessibility and Equality for People with Disabilities in the United States,” Abbass examined the role and relationship of the government and the private sector in addressing disability issues.
This included learning about the development of policies and legislation that ensure the protection of the civil and human rights of people with disabilities in all aspects of American society as well as education programs and social services that support and provide opportunities for individuals who are blind, mobility impaired, and Deaf or hard of hearing. He also examined the role of non-governmental organizations in raising awareness of disability issues by advocating for legislation and improved services. His program included visits to Washington, DC; Baltimore, Maryland; and New York, New York.
Born in Nazareth in 1976, this Israeli-Arab lawyer is the co-founder and director of Almanarah – the Society for Advancing Blind Arabs in Israel. Previously he did volunteer work at Bizchut – the Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities – and at the Arab Association for Human Rights.
Israeli Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare statistics indicate that there are over 5,000 blind and visually impaired Israeli-Arabs. With Abbass’ boundless energy, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv noted that the best way to characterize his leadership qualities is to compare him with the advertisements of a well-known battery company – he just keeps on going and going. Abbass explained his outlook in an interview with the national Israeli newspaper Haaretz: “Instead of taking life easy, I have to be the best, to excel, to stand out. As if I owe someone something. That is what is instilled in us. For a blind person to stand out, he has to be the best.”
Since returning from his program in the United States, Abbass has expanded his outreach efforts even further. He now has extensive contacts with the national media and the Knesset (Israeli parliament). During his IVLP, Abbass explored Equal Employment Opportunity law and practice in the United States. Using what he learned, he continues to advocate for the rights and opportunities of blind Arab people in Israel. He organized a program for municipal and business community leaders in Nazareth on equal employment opportunity.
Inspired by his visit to the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Abbass began a new project: building the first Arab Audio Library for blind people in Israel. The purpose of this project is to develop a collection of audio learning, scientific, and artistic materials. By building an audio library, Abbass hopes to transform the lives of the Israeli-Arab blind community, enabling them to live independent lives as part of mainstream Israeli society. Abbass has also opened a Braille library collection in the Nazareth Municipal Library, and produced a CD with essential information sources for the blind community that the Israeli Ministry of Welfare decided to distribute to all blind Arab people in Israel. This project is increasing public awareness and drawing public attention to the need for accessibility and equality for people with disabilities.
All of Abbass’ activities are aimed at one ultimate goal: “To help Israeli-Arab blind people achieve their full potential (with a healthy measure of self-esteem and confidence), so that they can broaden their horizons through the power of knowledge.”
Abbass serves as a role model in this goal by having broadened his own perspective through his experience as an International Visitor. “My program in America was a great adventure. It exposed me to new possibilities, especially concerning my organization’s social and cultural activities. I always quote Helen Keller’s famous saying, ‘Life is either a great adventure or nothing.’”
Mallory Kirsh is the alumni coordinator for Africa and the Middle East in the Office of Alumni Affairs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, where she works to foster opportunities for alumni of ECA exchange programs, including the State Alumni website (https://alumni.state.gov), an exclusive online global community.
Through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) foreign leaders in government, public policy, media, education, labor, the arts and other key fields travel to the United States to meet and confer with their professional counterparts.
