Omer was born two months premature, and because oxygen was cut off from his brain at birth, he developed Cerebral Palsy, a condition that left him physically disabled. Despite his physical limitations, Omer’s exceptional intellect and determination have allowed him to succeed. My parents didn’t give up on me along the way,” he says, “They really taught me that I’m capable, and I grew up with that feeling.” At his parents’ insistence, and driven by a deep desire to integrate into Israeli society, Omer attended high school and graduated with honors.
After having completed 13 years of school, Omer’s next dream was to serve in the Army “The truth is that it’s something that’s been with me since childhood.” Said Omer “My father is a former Israel Air Force pilot and a squadron commander, to serve in the Army is something that was very important in our family.” At first, we did not know how to make this dream come true for him, since, like every boy with a disability, Omer was exempted from the military service. Said Omer’s father Lt. Col (Res.) Orly Lahat. And then we heard about Special in Uniform. Special in Uniform is a unique program, now operating in partnership with the Jewish National Fund (JNF). It integrates young people with autism and other disabilities into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and, later on, into Israeli society. We met with the director of the program, who received Omer with open arms. Omer was the first soldier on a wheelchair in the program. Thanks to him, the door was opened for many other young people with physical disabilities. …...more
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