- Lotan, who has cerebral palsy, was born 4 months prematurely and was admitted in ICU for 6 months
- Being special, it was a dream come true for Lotan to be part of the Israel Defense Forces through the Special in Uniform program
- Special in Uniform presently incorporates 200 youth into the military, helping them integrate into society and the employment sector
JERUSALEM, Israel – A heartwarming story was shared by the online community showing a teenager with cerebral palsy becoming part of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
An article by The Jerusalem Post published on March 13 identified the teenager as Lotan, 18, who has cerebral palsy after being born prematurely.
Lotan’s mother gave birth on the 24th week of her pregnancy; 4 months before her due. Lotan was admitted to the ICU and had to spend 6 months in critical condition.
After two months of stay in the ICU, Lotan suffered from oxygen deprivation and thus, suffered brain damage. From then onwards, she had been battling for dear life and normalcy due to cerebral palsy.
“All along, they warned us that she wouldn’t walk, wouldn’t dance. But all along I insisted, ‘Yes, you will!’” Lotan’s mother shared.
Lotan was in her senior year in high school when IDF officials visited and gave a lecture about the army, and since that precise moment, the teenager’s amazement was over the roof.
Since then, Lotan’s dream was to serve in the IDF. However, parents, teachers, and friends gently attempted to dissuade her so she wouldn’t get hurt. However, the teenager remained strong in her decision even after her parents brought her to army registration where they received the doctor’s verdict that she was exempt from army service.
“I want to serve in army. I want to wear a uniform!” Lotan insisted so much that she made it possible to meet the directors of Special in Uniform.
Photo Credit: The Jerusalem Post
Digital Journal mentioned in an article published on March 14 that the Special in Uniform was developed ten years ago by Reserve Major Colonel Ariel Almog, who is the former commander of the HFC base in Ramleh.
Special in Uniform is an initiative of the IDF which hopes to incorporate young people with disabilities into the military and to help them integrate long-term into society and the workforce.
The program focuses on ability and not the disability, and plan to utilize and emphasize talents and capacities of people with disabilities in order to foster independence and integration into mainstream society despite physical challenges.
A few years ago, the Special in Uniform program joined forces with Israel’s Lend a Hand to the Special Child Foundation; an organization established in 2005 by parents of children with disabilities that operates in partnership with the Jewish National Fund (JNF).
The common goal of the group was to offer a program to thousands of young people in Israel who are suitable candidates for the program but didn’t know such a program exists.
“The Special in Uniform program starts in the army but doesn’t end there. We clearly see how it afterward effects better integration into society, community and the workforce,” said Executive Director of Lend a Hand Rabbi Mendy Belinitzki.
“‘We’re with you, Lotan. We’ll escort you through this,” they promised my daughter. It was then that I really began to believe that one day she would serve in the army,” says Lotan’s mother.
An article by Israel National News published on March 18 said that Special in Uniform presently incorporates 200 youth into the military; helping them integrate into society and the employment sector.
With the present active youth in military and a long waiting list, Special in Uniform’s vision is to quickly expand the program to encompass 1,000 enrolled participants.
“It was such a moving experience to see her in uniform. I’m so proud of her. It was a major victory!” says Lotan’s mother.
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