In honor of International Diversity Day, we chose to share the story of Oren, a visually and hearing- impaired man who works as a system engineer in the missile and space systems division.

Describe to us the beginning of your journey as a candidate for the various positions in the aerospace industry.

I came to IAI through a friend who served with me in the army. She submitted my resume, and two days later, they invited me to come for an interview. From the moment I entered the industry, I received support and assistance. I studied and prepared for this position. I shared with the recruiter my dream that had held on for three years: “I want to work as a systems engineer doing meaningful work!”

I was focused on this goal, and after several interviews I was accepted. I can honestly say that I have fulfilled my dream.

Describe your role as a systems engineer in the aerospace industry.

As part of my duties, I perform investigations and corroboration, proof of design, opening findings and troubleshooting between the various systems. I really like looking at the whole picture at the macro and micro level.

My position allows me to learn, understand and delve into each of the subsystems, and as many aspects as possible at the same time, which is an amazing thing in itself. And of course this includes the collaboration and brainstorming between team members.

And at the same time you use a guide dog.

I have an eye disease characterized by retinal degeneration. I am visually and hearing impaired. This means that although my field of vision is limited during the daylight hours, I can still see better during the day than in the dark. In order to get the complete understanding of the entire visual picture, I have to put the visual pieces together just like in a puzzle.

I have the help of a guide dog, which allows me to keep my independence, in various aspects, particularly in everything related to movement. Since my initial interviews with the IAI, I have felt that this was the most accessible place I have ever interviewed with.

My work environment is accessible and adapted to my physical abilities, and as a result, I can fully function.

In the office, they made sure that I had a special corner for my guide dog, so that he would feel at home. He really likes being here and everyone loves him.

The IAI has thought of everything in order to give me the best feeling of belonging, and making sure that I feel as comfortable as possible in the office, whether it is receiving accessible computing devices adapted to my needs, and including control over the lighting in the office. Even the fire alarm horn has been moved to where I can see and touch it if needed.

Do you feel supported by your team and work environment?

The ‘guys’ in the office are like a family; everyone here helps each other, not only on a professional level but first and foremost they are caring people

How should a sighted person approach a person with blindness that is using a guide dog? What tips can you give?

There are indeed some guidelines that you should know, for example you must not touch the dog while I am working with him, as this can distract his attention, and cause me to lose direction and control at the same time. Although the dog is trained to ignore distractions, he is still a dog, and really likes people, warmth, love and touch. So you should be aware and sensitive to the issue. Regarding getting assistance from people on the street, if it looks like I need help, I want them to approach me and ask, it’s legitimate. If they don’t offer help, I know how to ask for it. I can give an example that happened to me today in the dining room at work, when I was offered to pick up my food tray. I refused assistance with a smile because in real life situations it’s just me and the dog together. It’s important to learn how to deal with complex situations on a daily basis and I prefer to manage alone.

The biggest tip I can give in job interviews is to be honest. When I interviewed for a position in the aerospace industry, from the very first phone call, I put everything on the table and shared my disabilities, so that they would be aware of them. So that when I was hired, I began working feeling good and being confident. At the end of the day, as a system engineer, the job allows me ‘to fly’ and aim as high as possible, which expresses my character and abilities to solve problems.

This is the place I’ve always dreamed of reaching, and I continue to aim as high as possible!

In my free time I take pictures of the stars, since I cannot really see at night. It takes a lot of effort for me to operate and position the camera by touch and to know which star to aim the camera lens at. For me, the stars symbolize the optimism that is life – to strive and reach for the highest, pushing to the limits of my ability.

A message you would like to convey at the end?

If I’m talking to those with disabilities: don’t be afraid to work, come with confidence, with your talent and be who you are! And most importantly, aim as high as possible, “aim for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”