Nefesh B'Nefesh - Resources for Disabled Individuals in Israel

Akim is a nonprofit organization that provides services for children and adults with mental disabilities and other developmental disorders. Akim provides community living arrangements, family support centers, and a café which provides vocational training and job placement for young people with mental disabilities. In addition, support services are offered to the families of disabled individuals.

Chimes Israel

Chimes is a multi-service agency delivering a wide range of services such as: prevocational and vocational training, several types of employment, day habilitation training in independent living skills, and individual support services for people with mental retardation who live at home in their communities.

Israel

Elwyn:

Israel Elwyn is an organization that helps children and adults with special needs become active partners in Israeli society. The services provided by Israel Elwyn include: preschool developmental centers, educational services, work activities center, adult developmental centers, small business units, supported employment services, job placement and vocational training, transitional employment, supported group homes and dental services. David Marcus is the Executive Director of Israel Elwyn; he is a native English speaker, and he is very helpful.

Enosh: The Israel Mental Health Association

Enosh provides the following services: housing, vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, social rehabilitation, mentoring and buddy families. Enosh is an agency that works with the government (and specifically, with the Ministry of Health).

Michal Ronen, office manger of the professional staff. Phone: 03-5400672, extension: 120,121

Shekel: Community Services for the Disabled:

Shekel is an umbrella organization that provides community services in Jerusalem for children and adults with special needs (involving physical, intellectual, emotional, mental and learning disabilities). The services offered by Shekel include: Assessment and Treatment, Education, Community Living, Vocational Rehabilitation, Leisure and Sports, Accessibility Center , Special Programs.

4 Yad Harutzim St. P.O.B 53105 Jerusalem Israel 93531
Phone: 972-2-6720157/8, Fax: 972-2-6725208
E-mail: shekel@shekel.org.il

Yad Sarah: Aid for the Elderly and Disabled in Israel

Yad Sarah provides a wide range of services that include: activities for the homebound, emergency alarm response system, geriatric dental clinic, Golden Garden Coffee shops, home services department, home visits by volunteers, information services for parents with special needs children, legal aid for the elderly, Lifelink emergency bracelets, oxygen services and special equipment, the Karten Rehabilitative Computer Center, a toy library, an enrichment center for special children and their families, skills training, an employment center, and transportation for people in wheelchairs. Yad Sarah has branches all over the country.

Job Training for Olim with Aspergers Syndrome

Beit Eckstein, an organization whose goal is to improve the quality of life for people with special needs, has a job-training center for people with Aspergers Syndrome in Tel Aviv. In order for an oleh to benefit from these services, he must first be recognized as having AS by the Ministry of Social Welfare. He may then apply to the job-training center, known as Beit Ofek, and should simultaneously apply for a grant from the Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Institute) to cover expenses.

Application process

1. An oleh with Aspergers Syndrome first applies to the Ministry of Social Welfare in order to be recognized as an AS patient and to be referred to care outside his home. The applicant must have an ID card with an address in Israel – it cannot be done before making aliyah. This process can take anywhere from 2-6 months (and with pressure can possibly be sped up). Beit Ofek will not house anyone until this approval is granted.

[Note: It is suggested that during this waiting period, the oleh should take ulpan classes to improve his Hebrew before joining Beit Ofek.]

2. After approval from the Ministry of Social Welfare, the oleh goes to the absorption committee of Beit Ofek for an interview which lasts approximately one hour. Immediately following the interview, Beit Ofek makes their decision about whether or not to accept the oleh into their program.

3. If accepted, the oleh then applies for a stipend from Bituach Leumi. This may take up to two months, but it is paid retroactively to the date of the application . Bituach Leumi will give the stipend directly to Beit Ofek, who will take all the money necessary to cover expenses (approximately 80%) and will give the remainder to the AS oleh as monthly pocket money. The stipend from Bituach Leumi will cover health insurance.

Accommodations

Beit Ofek consists of three semi-detached cottages, each of which has a few levels. Five members live in each cottage, along with a day-time madrich. Someone other than the madrich sleeps in the cottage every night in case of emergency. Every member has his own room with basic furniture, and he is allowed to bring in his own as well. Each cottage has a lounge and a kitchen. The five members living in the cottage, along with the madrich, run the cottage as their own home, rotating cleaning and cooking duties, to prepare for independent living. Members are permitted to stay in their cottages for Shabbat, though most do not.

Members will live in the Beit Ofek cottages until they are ready to live on their own, which on average takes approximately two years (but may take as little as six months). At that point, members will move into an apartment nearby with 1-3 other members, and they will still be in contact with the Beit Ofek staff as necessary. This allows the members to live independently while still having the support of Beit Ofek.

Program

Every member of Beit Ofek has an individualized program made for him by a Support Coordinator working in the field of Special Education. All members go to the Job Training Center each morning at 8:00 AM, and they continue with their personal programs throughout the afternoon. In the evening, a member may leave his cottage as he wishes, though he must always say where he is going and return by 11:00 PM.

Daily checks are done on each member's progress. The personal programs focus on helping the members with life, social, and communication skills. Beit Ofek will help its members identify a suitable trade and will guide them on the correct course for getting a job. When a member has completed the program, Beit Ofek staff assists him in finding a job.

Contact Information

For further information, contact Beit Eckstein at 03 648 6477.

Additional Resources

Israeli Society for Autistic Children

http://www.alut.org.il/frames/frames.asp?data=english/english.html

Early Intervention for the Autistic Child:

http://www.mifne-autism.com/

Akim: National Association for the Habilitation of the Mentally Handicapped in Israel

Chimes Israel

Israel Elwyn:

Enosh: The Israel Mental Health Association

Shekel: Community Services for the Disabled:

Yad Sarah: Aid for the Elderly and Disabled in Israel