Each year ILAN awards scholarships to disabled students to help them achieve their educational goals - the key to success in life and full integration into society.

The scholarships are awarded by the Paulina and Dr. Avrham Bergman Memorial Fund. The goal of the fund is to encourage and assist disabled ILAN students during their academic studies at institutes of higher learning recognized by Israel's Council for Higher Education. Each year the fund awards scholarships of up to NIS 10,000 to twenty to thirty students.

Here is the moving story of Odealia Pitusi, one of the 2007 scholarship recipients.

Odela Pitusi, 30, is completely disabled as a result of S.M.A.2, a genetic disease that effects the connection between the nerves and the voluntary muscles, causing severe muscle weakness. The first daughter after two sons, she was diagnosed when she was four months old. Because of long periods of hospitalization due to respiratory complications, until second grade her studies took place at Asaf Harofe hospital.

Odelia completed elementary school at the Harzfeld Special Education School in Holon. In contrast to numerous children who have been abandoned by their parents, Odelia was blessed with an extremely supportive family that believed in her and her abilities. Even though at that time integration of disabled children into regular schools was still uncommon, she transferred to such a school. When she was in twelfth grade her oldest brother, Netanel, tragically died during IDF reserve duty.

After graduating from high school, Odelia continued her studies and received a B.A. in criminology from Bar-Ilan University. She says that it was always clear to her that she wanted to work in a field helping people, one that would provide the opportunity to contribute "as a person. I was afforded the means to believe in myself and I wanted to pass that on especially to disabled persons like myself who were not fortunate enough to grow up in such a warm and supportive environment as mine."
Odelia even learned to drive, so that after she completed her studies she was able to work as a coordinator for youth projects and to lecture. In addition, she devotes time to volunteering in ILAN's social circle and in "Beit Hagalgalim"

"I contemplated studying for a M.A. in art therapy for a long time. Because of my disability it was difficult to find work in my field, and I thought that what I needed was to have some advantage over other applicants, to have an impressive profession that would make it easier for me to market myself," recalls Odelia. She was always drawn to art; and the idea of combining creativity and helping others captivated her. After looking for an appropriate course, she discovered there are six institutions in the country that train students in art therapy, of them only three are disabled-accessible. Only one was able to see past her outer packaging - the Israeli branch of Lesley University.

Unlike bachelor degrees, the State of Israel does not help finance masters. "My studies are very expensive to begin with, before factoring in medical expenses, accessibility accessories, and such," says Odelia, "and so I couldn't have been more pleased when ILAN, as always, stood by me and decided to help. Through its many activities ILAN has entwined itself in my life; it is the friendly bridge to self-fulfillment, whether through the summer camps I attended in childhood, its solicitous support of me and my family, financial assistance for purchasing medical appliances, its sports and social centers, but more than anything, by teaching me about a life in which there are people who have chosen to give to others, all this from a position of strength and an optimistic viewpoint that always sees something to gain and a goal to strive for. When I look towards the horizon - to all that is awaiting me - I truly want to make use of my education and training, to work in my field; to fulfill myself just like any another other person, in my personal life and in all the paths I choose to follow. I will do this out of belief in God and in the power to choose that He bestowed upon us, even if I decide to jump off the deep end; I will dare to declare that I am equal, be will happy with the hand that was dealt to us, and honestly believe that we - like all others - are the spirit of society."

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This is Eldar Yosipov's scholarship application.
Eldar was awarded his scholarship in 2008 and is successfully continuing his education

Greetings,

My name is Eldar Yosipov and I have cerebral palsy. I have problems speaking and limited use of my hands.

I was born in the Soviet Union in 1986. There I was confined to my house every day and did not attend school because none existed for the handicapped. My parents taught me to read and write. In 1998 I made aliya to Israel and for the first time began to attend school. My first school was the Onn School for the handicapped.
It was wonderful to finally study and the staff treated me warmly and with love.
In 2005 I transferred to a regular school and graduated with a full matriculation certificate. When I originally requested to attend the school they didn't want to accept me because of my disabilities, but in the end they did. It is a good school, and despite my difficulties in speaking I made friends with some of my fellow pupils. I helped them in their studies and they returned love.
I took tests by using an alphabet board with my attendant writing down what I spelled out. For some literature tests I was forced to spell out ten pages of text.

My grades were
Literature 98
Mathematics 97
English 85
Bible 95
History 100
Hebrew composition 85

Last year I began to study literature at Tel Aviv University, and this year I'll be entering their School of Cinema. I very much enjoy studying at the university; the courses are interesting and I am happy and proud to be in a place where it is possible to learn many things about the world.
In the future I would like to be a screenwriter; I greatly enjoy writing and inventing stories - it is as if I am creating on a simple piece of paper a whole world in which I decide the fates of the characters - who will live and who will die, and what will happen in the end. In my stories, I play the part of God and that is fascinating.

By acquiring a profession, I will be able to support myself just like any other person.
In Israel and other places in the world employers do not want to employ the disabled because of their limitations. This is especially true of people with speaking disabilities and so many of us (the disabled) are forced wile away our time at home.
The reason I chose screenwriting is that one of my main goals is to promote the rights of the disabled; everyone knows that television is a powerful means of influencing the general public. I can use that advantage to persuade society to accept the handicapped as equals.

During my first year at university, my test grades in various courses were 80.9, 84, 87, and 93.

I ask you to help me pay for the attendant who helps me physically at the university. He is able to translate what I spell out on the alphabet board; I need this help in those university courses that require verbal participation....