Meeting the Needs of Every Student

Each student has unique needs on their path to success. This is a simple principle, but meeting different needs of thousands of students requires a deep commitment to educational equity. At Tel Aviv University, the Student Success Center (SSC) is growing its resources for one of the most underrepresented populations in higher education: disabled students. 

Easing the Individual Burden 

About 35% of Israelis hold academic degrees, compared to just 16% among people with disabilities. This is largely due to a lack of accessibility resources, or to a lack of awareness about available assistance. Even before applying to university, potential students may have no way of knowing what accommodations are available, and often must spend time and energy advocating for services to which they are entitled. Upon beginning their studies, this problem does not go away as they must now self-advocate before professors and administrative staff. 

In recent years, however, there has been a welcome increase in the number of students with disabilities enrolled in higher education in Israel. At TAU, to ensure equal access to success, the SSC has made accessibility a top priority. This includes physical accessibility of campus spaces, digital accessibility of learning materials and online platforms, and faculty and staff training for disability inclusion.  

 
Current initiatives include:  

• Tzavta, an alternative admissions pathway for students with disabilities, which also helps them integrate into the University  
• An employment-oriented college program for young adults with disabilities, designed to support academic learning alongside vocational preparation  
• Yahalom, which provides a tailored admissions route and ongoing support for students on the autism spectrum 
• The Mia and Mile Pinkas Accessible Learning Center at the Sourasky Central Library, which provides a space for disabled students to meet and get academic support, as well as equipment such as reading assistors for the visually impaired 
• Personalized tutoring and peer support for those with impairments and disabilities of all kinds 
   

The University is also in the process of establishing a student-led activist group which brings together students with and without disabilities, aimed at advancing awareness, advocacy, and inclusive change on campus. The group is established in partnership with Link20, an organization advocating for disability inclusion.  

TAU Diversity VP Prof. Neta Ziv presents on the many accessibility efforts on campus, present and future.

Gathering to Learn 
 

As part of this partnership, a conference was held recently on the TAU campus. Representatives from several academic institutions all committed to a shared objective: gaining a deeper understanding of the needs of students with disabilities and using those insights to create a more organized, accessible University experience. Importantly, disabled students themselves presented at the conference on their own unique challenges and barriers.  

The conference was also initiated in collaboration with Academi-Link, a student-led network of students with disabilities in higher education; the National Union of Israeli Students; Rothschild Partnerships; and Tel Aviv University’s Office for Equality, Diversity, and Community. 

Says Prof. Neta Ziv, Vice President for Diversity, Equality and Community: “In the wake of the war, we are already seeing, and expect to continue seeing, an increase in the number of students with disabilities entering higher education. This reality underscores the urgent need to strengthen accessibility, support structures, and inclusive policies across the university. Our commitment is not only to respond to individual needs, but to ensure that the academic environment as a whole is prepared to enable these students to thrive and succeed.” 
 

Spotlight on a Student: 

Tova is a second-degree law (LLM) student at the Buchmann Faculty of Law. She is already working full-time as a lawyer in a boutique firm and is pursuing this advanced degree in her very limited free time. “I felt a calling to law,” she says. “I have needed lawyers to help me advocate for myself in the past, and those experiences made me want to help others in the same way.” 

Tova’s impairment is physical, and she is able to participate in classes thanks to the accommodations offered by the Student Success Center through the Pinkas Center and the Faculty. “I need a footrest and a pillow for my back during my studies, which help me physically sit in class with all the other students.” 

Read other success stories here and here.