In The Politics of Autism, I discuss military personnel and military families. The IDF recruits autistic soldiers. The US military is lagging.
Hana Levi Julian at JewishPress.com:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is implementing significant changes to its recruitment and integration strategies for individuals on the autism spectrum, according to Udi Heller, an autistic IDF officer and founder of the “Titkadmu” (“Move Forward”) program, and the “Shavim” association, which works to provide vocational rehabilitation for the disabled.
The reforms aim to address manpower shortages and diversify service options for autistic individuals.
The move will see changes to “Move Forward”, with the IDF shifting toward recruiting some autistic personnel through standard channels, with possible integration into operational units.
Previously, young people on the autism spectrum could volunteer for service with medical profiles of 25 or higher, primarily in predefined roles, or enlist via the specialized “Move Forward” program, which allowed them to serve under Profile 45 with accommodations that suited their needs.
According to a document from the IDF’s “Meitav” Command, new policies permit certain autistic individuals to be recruited under Profile 64 without adjustments, enabling placements in combat support units or even combat units, aligning with the IDF’s war-driven recruitment needs.
