Yesodot's Partnership with Families and Organizations in Haifa, Israel, the Boston Jewish Community's Sister City
For approximately three years, Yesodot has been developing a bond between its families and Haifa families, as well as with support organizations for people with disabilities in Haifa. The project began by matching families for email correspondence and has developed since that time. The Principal of Haifa's Ofer School for Children with Autism visited Boston twice to meet with parents and participate in Yesodot's family assistive technology conferences. In 2006, the Yesodot director and two parents traveled to Israel to meet with families and disability organizations, develop connections in Haifa and Jerusalem, and assess the feasibility of a future Yesodot family trip. During the trip they met with over 25 parent groups and disability organizations, setting the ground work for future travel. Soon thereafter, groups in both cities worked together to protest inaccurate information about Israel in an international current events newsletter for young people with severe disabilities. In 2007 Yesodot will be adding symbol set Haggadahs (for young people with communication disorders) from Haifa, and other Israeli disability-related information, to its website. A second parent trip to Haifa is also planned. Mishpacha L'Mishpacha/Family to Family is funded in part through a grant from the Boston-Haifa Steering Committee of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Matching Families for Mutual Support:
Yesodot continues to match families in Boston and Haifa for communication via post, email or free internet telephone. If interested send an e-mail to Ruth Ginsburg at rginsburg@jvs-boston.org
Next Year in Jerusalem--Yesodot's Family Trip to Israel:
Yesodot is in the process of planning a family trip to Haifa and Jerusalem tentatively scheduled for February '08. For more information contact Sue Wolf Fordham at (617) 399-3299 or director@yesodot.org
Israeli Disability Organizations
Yesodot has a connection to a number of disability organizations and schools in Israel, focusing on those in or near Haifa.
Aluteva:
Family vacation respite program north of Haifa for Israeli families whose children have autism.
In addition provide some after school recreation programs. http://www.aluteva.org.il
Etgarim:
Provides adventure sports and outdoor challenge activities for children and adults with disabilities. http://www.etgarim.org
Kesher:
Kesher is an organization designed specifically to help parents of children with all types of disabilities to cope better with the everyday difficulties of raising their child. One phone call connects them to a professional whose expertise lies in applying a problem-solving approach. Kesher's comprehensive information, counseling and support services connect parents to the service system. Our policy is to provide a tailor-made solution until they reach the optimal solution.
http://www.mrkesher.org.il
The following organizations can help individuals with disabilities plan for accessible travel to Israel. Visit the websites listed below for contact information.
Access Unlimited (Nagish LaKol)
A non-profit Israeli accessibility organization whose goal is to increase public awareness and the integration of people with disabilities into society. Access Unlimited promotes accessibility to public and private Israeli tourist attractions and recreational activities, provides consultation, performs accessibility audits of tourist sites, hotels, and related venues, and provides staff training at those sites. Access Unlimited has developed and continuously updates the largest and most detailed accessibility database in Israel and publishes an accessibility guide book available in both Hebrew and English editions. The website has a number of informational links for travelers.
www.access-unlimited.co.il
Israel for All (Yisroel LaKol)
Israel for All provides customized travel to Israel for groups and individuals with special needs. Israel 4 All is a travel agency that arranges tours and travel as well as other recreation facilities for people with all kind of physical disabilities and special needs in Israel and abroad. The website has a number of informational links for travelers with disabilities. www.israel4all.com
Yad Sarah
Yad Sarah, the largest voluntary organization in Israel, provides a spectrum of free or nominal cost services designed to make life easier for people who are ill, have a disability, or are elderly and their families, focusing on care in the home. Services include providing adaptive and medical equipment to residents and tourists to Israel at minimal cost. www.yadsarah.org
