Media: Hodaya Oliel at her graduation from the Technion’s medical school. Born with cerebral palsy, she plans to specialize in pediatric neurology. Photo courtesy of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
In honor of Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, ISRAEL21c introduces you to inspiring and diverse women who conquered substantial obstacles to achieve greatness.
By Abigail Klein Leichman
MARCH 3, 2022, 5:40 PM
Israel21c
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Among the 10 successful women, they included Shirly Pinto, the first deaf member of Israeli Knesset]
March 8, International Women’s Day, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Throughout this Women’s History Month, ISRAEL21c will bring you special content focusing on fabulous females from all sectors of Israeli society.
Here we present short and inspiring snapshots of 10 highly accomplished women who overcame considerable odds to get where they are today.
SHIRLY PINTO, first deaf member of Knesset
Pinto, a lawyer turning 33 this month, was the first member of Knesset to be sworn in using sign language. She received a standing ovation on July 12, 2021, when she addressed the plenum as the first deaf lawmaker in Israeli history.
Media: Shirly Pinto, the first deaf member of Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
In her speech, the air force veteran and disabilities activist said that as a person deaf from birth, she “experienced firsthand on my body and on my soul, the lack of accessibility, the lack of awareness and the inherent societal barriers.”
One of Pinto’s first accomplishments as a lawmaker was approval of a mandate for hospitals to stock transparent facemasks for medical personnel so that patients or staff with hearing impairment can read their lips. She said that communication for Israel’s 750,000 deaf and hard of hearing people has been “hell” during the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: www.israel21c.org/10-successful-women-who-overcame-extraordinary-odds/
