Akim:
National Association for the Habilitation of the Mentally Handicapped 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
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.
Contact
Details:
Yehudit
and Meir Rubanenko Campus
13 Ha'Arad
Street
Tel
Aviv , Israel69710
Tel:
972-3-644-2427
Fax:
972-3-647-4047
IsraelElwyn:
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
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).
Shekel
is an umbrella organization that provides community services in Jerusalemfor 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, AccessibilityCenter, Special Programs.
Contact
Information:
4
Yad Harutzim St. P.O.B 53105 JerusalemIsrael93531
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,andtransportation
for people in wheelchairs. Yad Sarah has branches all over the country.
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.
