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Division for Disabilities and Rehabilitation and Israel Unlimited
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| Division for Disabilities and Rehabilitation and Israel Unlimited News
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Volunteerism by People with Disabilities -
Research Findings
 One-fourth of the members of the Supportive Community for People with Disabilities expressed their interest in volunteering. There is even greater interest among people with disabilities to volunteer on behalf of people with disabilities or within the broader community. The average number of hours spent on volunteer activities ranged from 10 hours a month (for volunteers within the Supportive Community) to 30 hours a month (for volunteers within the broader community). The average volunteer period is three years. These findings form a study conducted by Dr. Avi Gripel and Sarit Katash (2011) for Israel Unlimited, will be presented at a conference on 21.11.11 organized by Yad Sarah and JDC Israel on volunteerism among people with Disabilities.
There are currently 23 Supportive Communities for People with Disabilities across Israel, with 1,700 members. Among them, 180 members volunteer either within the Supportive Community and/or in the broader community. One of the goals of the program is to develop community and social frameworks that provide the person with a disability the opportunity to be involved and make a difference in the community and in Israeli society.
The study indicates that volunteerism by people with disabilities contributes to their self-worth, sense of pride and satisfaction and provides them with a feeling of belonging to the community and assisting others. Ninety-two percent (92%) of the interviewees noted that volunteerism contributes to making new social connections. Over one-third of the members reported difficulties in carrying out volunteer activities within and without the supportive community, which include: physical difficulties, transportation barriers, accessibility barriers, difficulty in understanding what was expected of them.
Among those interested in volunteering, the following would help facilitate their volunteerism: training, mentoring, personal guidance on how to be a volunteer, covering expenses, including travel, related to the volunteer activity.
In the Picture: Moshe, Heftzi and Moti, active members of the Center for Independent Living Be'er Sheva volunteering within the community
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Inauguration of the "Space for Independent Living in the Upper Galilee", 18 October 2011
An inaugural ceremony was held for the Space for Independent Living in the Upper Galilee in the Agamon Hula during the Sukkot holiday. The "Space", a program of Israel Unlimited and Access Israel, is the fifth of six planned Centers for Independent Living (CIL) in Israel. The CILs promote independence alongside participation in family and community activities for people with disabilities. Each CIL serves 1,000 people a year through peer counseling, training in independent living skills, advising on assistive devices and promoting accessibility and raising awareness to disability issues in the community. The CILs are being established with the support of the JDC Israel, the Government of Israel, the Ruderman Family Foundation in cooperation with local disable persons organizations and local authorities.
The day, which included an "accessibility happening" and an inaugural ceremony, was organized in cooperation with the Agamon Hahula, Jewish National Fund and the Israel Government Tourism Corporation. The 5,000 visitors to the site were offered experiential workshops, activities and games which provided them with an experience of the lives of people with disabilities, opening their hearts and minds to the other. During the event, which was accompanied by the excitement due to the release of Gilad Schalit on that day, participants wrote accessible graffiti welcoming Gilad home while wearing gloves that limit hand movement, learned to greet Gilad in sign language and were treated to the performance of singer Moran Mazoz, who herself has a visual disability, in honor of the event and Gilad's return.
Photo: Representatives of the Space for Independent Living in the Upper Galilee partner organizations "signing" congratulations on the inauguration of the Space.
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| Flying High with Jerusalem's Supportive Communities
 A Mission consisting of Lay leaders and staff (Campaign Chairs and Directors) from various federations across America (mostly the Mid-West) had the opportunity to visit The Supportive Community for People with Disabilities in Jerusalem. The 23 communities across Israel provide a basket of services that enables people with disabilities to live independently within communities, cope with emergencies and be involved in their neighborhoods.
The group took part in Home Visits where they had the opportunity to meet with members of the community and see firsthand, the type of services with which they are provided. One couple, Gavriel and Noga are both blind with a 14-year-old son and the second couple Eva and Martin. Eva is a 59-year-old woman whom is now wheelchair bound a result of her decrease in mobility as a result of Cerebral Palsy took the opportunity to express her appreciation for the program and the impact it has had on her life:"Without this program, my life would be very different. Before I used to sit at home and did nothing. Now, because Eirit (program Coordinator) opened for us many things, like … trips to Eilat and the north… there are many things to do. I used to sit at home all the time, but now I go outside more… now know many people."
Following the Home visits, the group joined 20 families (Parents with disabilities and their children, up to age 17) in decorating, building and flying kites at Kehilat Yedidya.
Picture: Vladimir Shtern, Community Parent for the Jerusalem area flying kites with children from the community.
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| Launching of "Masira Fund" for People with Special Needs in the Arab Society in Israel
At the 2011 Arab Business Conference held in Nazareth on 11 May, a group of businessmen led by Dr. Basel Ghattas launched the Masira Fund to raise funds from within the Arab society to ensure the continuity of the Masira program, which has been implemented through the JDC-Israel Division for Disabilities and Rehabilitation for the last five years. Julia Zohar, a businesswomen, said that she was surprised to learn from Soad Diab about the situation of people with disabilities in the Arab society and called upon her colleagues to join in this initiative.
Many people came to the "Masira" booth to receive information and materials and to talk to the disabled activists in the program, among them Mr. Munib Al Masry, who purposely made his way through the crowd. Speaking with Samer Abu Karshen, coordinator of the Forum of Arab Women with Disabilities in Al-Tafula, he noted that she did not look at him directly and asked her why, and she answered "because I am blind", he responded "you are also pretty" and they continued the conversation.
The Masira Fund seeks to attract business people, public figures, artists and representatives of the media. Acting alongside the Fund will be the Masira Center, a coalition of Disabled Persons Organizations, which will continue activities such as the work with religious leaders. JDC will continue to support the new initiative until the Amuta is self-sufficient.
Among the organizations active in the Masira Program is the Almanal Association for Disabled People in Sakhnin which received the Prize for Quality and Excellence in the Galilee (named for Danny Rosolio) the next day.
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| Israel Unlimited Professional Visit to New York and Boston
 During May, a delegation comprised of members of the Managing and Professional committees of Israel Unlimited visited New York and Boston. Participating were representatives of government, the National Insurance Institute, JDC-Israel and disabled activitists. The delegation visited person-centered independent living services in programs that serve people with disabilities at risk, met with policy makers and service planners and made many professional connections. The Ruderman family hosted the members of the delegation in Boson together with other funders and service providers
in the disability field.
Among others, the delegation met Charles Carr, the Administrator for Rehabilitation Services for People with Disabilities in Massachusetts (photo). Mr. Carr's life story follows closely the historic development in the field of disabilities: he lived the first years of his life in an institution, was active in the disability rights movement, founded the Center for Independent Living in Boston and then moved to his current position.
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| New! Report on the Status of People with Mental Health Disabilities in the Arab society in Israel with a focus on the Triangle region.
The report includes a literature review, findings from focus groups conducted with people with mental health disabilities and family members and interviews with professionals in the field. The report highlights the attitudes towards people with mental health disabilities and their families in Muslim Arab society including among professionals and religious leaders, as well as the barriers to and facilitators of inclusion of people with mental health disabilities in society.
The report documents available services and unmet needs for services for people with mental health disabilities, including new initiatives of the Masira program for the advancement of the status of people with disabilities in the Arab society in Israel. The Masira program which has been operation for five years throughout Israel, began a year ago to address mental health needs in the Triangle region and Tira, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and with the support of the Lazlo N. Tauber Foundation.
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| New Report: Promoting and Preserving Health and Function Among People with Disabilities
 Along with the rising life expectancy among people with disabilities comes a concurrent rise in risk for chronic illness, at rates higher that the general population – heart and circulatory diseases (6.5); diabetes (3.5); blood pressure (2.3). Chronic illness can lead to increased restrictions in function and participation in family and community life. Therefore Israel Unlimited is dedicated to increasing knowledge and developing community-based services at the interface of disability and chronic illness. The newly released report "Promoting and Preserving Health and Function Among People with Disabilities" is based on a review of relevant literature, mapping of programs in Israel and abroad, feedback from focus groups conducted with people with disabilities and interviews with professionals in the field including those with disabilities.
Based on the report, Israel Unlimited is developing the Accessible Health Zone – Milestone Program for Health Promotion Among People with Disabilities. The program responds to two needs raised in the report: making health promoting services and infrastructure accessible to people with different types of disabilities; and providing tools and supportive frameworks to people with disabilities to initiate and maintain lifestyle changes.
Photo Credit: World Health Organization ©
Images of Health and Disability Photo Competition, 2005
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| Assistive Devices Improve Home Safety and Function for People with Disabilities in Israel
Through an initiative of the Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry of Social Services and Social Affairs, the Supportive Communities for People with Disabilities is now offering its members advice on home adaptations and assistive devices.
The Supportive Community Staff and a representative of Milbat conduct home visits and recommend individualized solutions that will significantly ease the daily lives of people with disabilities. The project is currently being piloted in a number of Supportive Communities in northern Israel.
The team visited Morad Siso a member of the Supportive Community in Beit Shean and advised him on assistive devices that have increased his safe navigation around his home and improved his quality of life. In the photo, the occupational therapist observes Morad's mobility around his home using a cane: Is the cane he has the safest option for him to get around? Is the chair an appropriate height for sitting and standing? Purchasing new equipment is the responsibility of the person him/herself.
The Supportive Community for People with Disabilities is implemented through the cooperation of Israel Unlimited, JDC-Israel, the Ministry of Social Services and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health and municipalities
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| Inauguration of Program for Olim with Disabilities at the Center for Independent Living in Haifa
On 28 February 2011, a new program for olim with disabilities was inaugurated at the Center for Independent Living operated by the AHVA organization in cooperation with Israel Unlimited, Masad Klita, the Ministry for Social Services and the Ministry for Immigrant Absorption. Programmatic components include an accessible Ulpan (Hebrew language class) for new immigrants living with disabilities, accessible and adapted (linguistically and culturally) computer classes, peer counseling on accessing rights, and social activities. Forty (40) new immigrants participated in the opening event. Pioter (aged 29) and Ivan (aged 43), who have been in Israel for a year, discussed the importance of the program. They were unable to participate in another Ulpan due to lack of accessible public transportation. The transportation provided as part of the accessibility of the program will enable them to participate in this Ulpan, improve their Hebrew and in the future participate in the labor forces. The inaugural event concluded with a lecture in Russian on music by seasons of the year.
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Participation of People with Disabilities in the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
The Division for Disabilities and Rehabilitation is seeking to advance the participation of people with disabilities in the programs that promote a sustainable environment.
In March 2011, 12 people with mobility, sensory and mental health disabilities will visit the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens. The visit will include a tour of the gardens, educational and experiential activities. At the end, the participants will provide feedback regarding the feasibility of programming.
At a focus group held at the North Jerusalem Supportive Community for People with Disabilities in December 2010, the participants expressed interest in learning about environmental issues and its impact on their lives, as well as in taking an active role in promoting environmental education, nature preservation and global sustainability. In addition, environmental activism can serve as a vehicle for family and community participation and promoting healthy living.
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Concluding Activity for "Safe Home" Program for People with Disability in Israel Living in the Community
 In November, the Division for Disabilities and Rehabilitation will mark the conclusion of the "Safe Home" for People with Disability Living in the Community Program 2009-2010 with the publication of the final report and a wrap-up event in Beer Sheva.
Over 100 families with at least one member with a disability benefitted from an improvement to their personal safety and quality of life from the program. These families' apartments, which were extremely run-down infrastructure and dangerous conditions, were repaired and renovated through the program. Renovations included introduction of assistive devices for improved accessibility. The program was implemented in Beer Sheva, Sderot, Beit Shean and the Emek Maayanot Regional Council during 2010.
 The "Safe Home" program was made possible thanks to a donation from the Sisco Family Foundation, and the financial participation of the Amidar and Amigur public housing companies and of the beneficiaries themselves. It was carried out by the Social Service departments, disabled persons organizations and the implementing agencies of the Supportive Communities for People with Disabilities in Israel.
The final program report provides organizational, professional and financial information on the program and the means to expand it to benefit others.
Mental Health Training for Imams
 Thirty (30) Imams from mosques in the Triangle region and southern Israel are participating in a training program to change attitudes towards people with mental disability in Arab society in Israel. The training program is being conducted in the framework of the Masira (Journey) Program for the Advancement of the Status of People with Disabilities in the Arab society in Israel. It is a partnership of JDC-Israel, the Ministry of the Interior- Division for Communities, Ministry of Health and the Tauber Foundation.
The content of the training included: stigmas about people with mental disability, religious aspects of mental health, tools for dealing with people with mental disability, meeting with people with mental disability and their family members, the law for rehabilitation of people with mental disability and the basket of services, the effect of medication on the person, medical aspects of mental health issues, ideas for social change, etc…
Kick-off Event of the Upper Galilee Space for Independent Living - Accessibility Happening at the Agmon Hula
 The Upper Galilee Space for Independent Living held its kick-off event, an accessibility happening at the Agmon Hula during the Sukkot holiday. Over 3,000 people – with and without – disabilities took part in activities to learn about the world of people with disabilities and making nature sites accessible to them.
Activities included: introduction to sign language, wheelchair navigation through natural paths and obstacles, mouth painting, navigation with a guide-dog, wheelchair basketball with the participation of the 2010 national youth championship team – Hapoel Galil Elyon, and more.
The event was conducted in partnership by: the Upper Galilee Space for Independent Living, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, Access-Israel, and JDC-Israel/Israel Unlimited.
The Karmiel Supportive Community for People with Disabilities Celebrates the New Year
The 23 Supportive Communities for People with Disabilities in Israel  offer a range of social activities. Singing, dancing, holiday greetings and holiday customs were on the program as 40 members of the Karmiel Supportive Community for People with Disabilities, implemented by Tigbur, celebrated the New Year together with staff and the volunteers from the local chapter of the Hadassah Women's Organization. |
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