Photo: Jaffa “Touch Center” // Photo Archive: Coco
Jaffa Touch Center in Jaffa, which operates a unique restaurant in dark conditions and waiters with visual impairments and hearing impairments – may close due to cuts • Employee: “We will be lost” • City hall: “Waiting for budget”
Daniel Roth-Avnery
Posted on: 11.05.2020 06:46 Updated on: 11.05.2020 07:37 AM3
Israel Hayom
Jaffa port lies one of the most exciting places in Israel, the center of ” please touch ” erupted into consciousness by the use of dark restaurant “Blackout” which visually impaired host a memorable meal in the dark, with long waiting lists best place
However, today, following the Corona epidemic, the magical place where theater is also located, and earns dozens of visually impaired and hearing impaired people, is in danger of being closed. Following the Corona epidemic and changes in the economy, the Tel Aviv municipality announced in its letter a 50% cut in support.
Mohammed Shakur (38), who suffers from visual impairment and serves as the center’s accessibility coordinator, workshop manager and actor in the theater, is upset by the decision. “I speak for all my colleagues. Our place is special, and it makes us contribute to society and to serve others. We want to continue to do so and not become a burden to society. If we are unemployed, as people with disabilities, we will be really lost.”
Shakur adds: “During our Corona frustration is twofold, we are dealing with both our disability and our loneliness because of the prohibition of coming in contact. Our place provides security for people with disabilities and gives us occupational and social security. We will not let our place be closed. ”
“Please touch” CEO Oren Yitzhaki painfully shared: “As CEO of 120 employees, most of whom have special needs, I cannot look up to them and say that tomorrow will be as good as yesterday. These are people with income allowance, some are in hostels, “All that is wanted is to go out and integrate as a person into the company. Not at all sure that I can get them back to work, even on the smallest scale. To hit us with the budget right now is simply absurd.”
Photo: Muhammad Shakur // Photo: Avi Levy
The loss – of the entire company
Yitzhaki explained that “this reality creates a terrible injustice both for them and for us, the public and the hearers, who are not immediately exposed to their world. And our entire loss. ”
Tel Aviv Municipality’s response: “In light of the Corona crisis, the municipality has had to divide its support for about 100 cultural associations into two beats instead of one payment, and we hope the second budget beating will be approved soon. Our hearts with the ‘Please Touch’ team. ”
