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...raising the community's awareness...
To make the community aware of the needs of physically challenged children, Ofakim offered a continuing program of having
Haifa's High School and University Population volunteer at Ofakim, with the goal that personal contact with the physically
handicapped will raise sensitivity to the subject of the handicapped child in the community. By spending their time with a
physically challenged child twice a week during weekdays, these volunteers received an allowance thus also helping them
financially.
We learned from Debbie that according to their statistical data 1% of the Israeli population have physical
disability.
I was really fascinated by the program that the alluring Speech therapist uses so the children would learn
to speak through the help of the computer . She explained that the computer assisted intructional material that she got from
the Ministry of Education was much better than the toys used to developed speech since you can only use the toys to record
a sound once while the computer could have many pictures as well as their sound when the child click the mouse. They have
an adapted mouse or more correctly mouses since there are two round objects that serve as mouse that the cerebral palsied
child manipulated by pressing their palm on it, much simpler motor skill than clicking a mouse which require fine motor skills
that they might not have.
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The MASHAV - MCTC Experience
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A Trip to Ofakim
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Want to learn how Israel takes care of their special children? Please read on.
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We also went to a gripping visit to a school for cerebral palsied children ran by the Ministry of Education of Israel.
I said gripping because even though I really really want to go to the toilet I control myself for fear of missing anything.
There are so many interesting things to absorb in a very short time because Debbie Black Temin, a social worker paid for by
ILAN gave us a lovely tour of the entire Ofakim while explaining the things so nicely.
..SPED's remarkable support from NGO
ILAN, Israel Foundation for Handicapped Children, founded in 1952, that catered to the needs of 13,000 Israeli children
and adults afflicted with cerebral palsy, polio and otherneuro-muscular disabilities is a major source of educational and
social-welfare services to the physically disabled in Israel. It is a nationwide, voluntary organization with 70 branches
throughout the country.
adopting the Peto approach...
Ofakim school received the prestigious national education prize awarded by Israel's Ministry of Education, for excellence
in the field of education in June, 2000. It has adopted an educational-therapeutic curriculum that incorporates both individual
and small group instruction and is based on a number of curriculum approaches. Part of Ofakims Curriculum format is taken
from the "Peto" Philosophy and approach in working with physically disabled children, a conductive education approach from
Budapest according to Debbie.
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The focus of the rehabilitation program at Ofakim is to develop incrementally a wide range of specific capabilities that,
with time, will become a part of the child's daily activities. This program encourages much group support in acquiring daily
living skills. The focus is on acquiring independence, according to individual capabilities, in the following areas: standing,
walking, mobility in class, during and after school hours, eating personal hygiene, language development, socxial relationships,
and having the child take responsibility for his/her body.
Each group's therapeutic instruction (gross motor, fine
motor, communication) contributes immensely to the progress of the Ofakim student.
In addition, Ofakim has adopted the special furniture and equipment of Peto as part of the school's furniture. This specially
designed furniture helps the the child to sit in a more independent manner without adult support or the tying of the child
to his/her chair.
... tremendous support to the parents
The parents of a disabled child in Israel received a stipend through their bank accounts from Israel's Social Security
System. A representative from the Ministry of health also visited their home so they could also adapt their house to the the
special needs of their child. Moreover, the municipality took care of transporting the child with special needs to and from
school.
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