IE operates on the belief that a just society is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and to safeguarding the right of each person to participate equally and actively in all spheres of life, according to personal preferences. We are committed to providing employment training and opportunities so that individuals with disabilities can work in the competitive job market in the careers of their choice.

Toward this end, Israel Elwyn has developed employment and career programs throughout Israel and continually expands its network of employers who welcome program participants into their businesses as paid employees. IE proudly supports 1,500 individuals with disabilities who are employed in the competitive job market across more than 2,800 workplaces.

ISRAEL ELWYN’S EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER PROGRAMS

Israel Elwyn’s employment and career programs support thousands of employees with disabilities nationwide who wish to be employed in the competitive job market. Created in the early 1990s, IE was the first Israeli organization to provide this opportunity to its program participants.

The program offers employees with disabilities the opportunity to gain relevant employment skills, the prospect of improving their earning capacity, and the development of a fulfilling career path. IE staff supports service recipients, either individually or in group models, to find suitable, adapted jobs.

During the employee’s inclusion in the workplace, the program’s staff serves as a liaison between the employer and employee to ensure that the employer’s requirements are met and that they align with the employee’s wishes and rights.

The program operates under the supervision and funding of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs and local municipalities.

IE continues to expand its pool of employers through new strategies, such as recognizing employers who hire people with disabilities with the “Open-Door Employer” social badge. This badge can be proudly and publicly displayed in the employer’s business as recognition of their commitment to creating a just and equal society.

IE is seeking support for the acquisition of a dedicated Hub in central Israel—ideally located in the Sharon area (Ra’anana/Herzliya/Kfar Saba/Hod HaSharon) —to establish an Employment Training Hub for individuals with disabilities. This new space will serve as a regional hub, delivering comprehensive employment training and support programs that promote independence and skill-building in an inclusive and supportive hands-on environment. The space will be around 1,615 square feet (150 meters), where 50 individuals with disabilities will be able to receive support and training.

The Employment Training Hub will provide a wide array of programs designed to strengthen vocational skills, interpersonal skills, enhance daily life, and support individuals with disabilities as they prepare for jobs in the competitive job market. The hub will offer targeted vocational training aligned with the demands of various industries, including retail, manufacturing, administration, the food industry, and more.

This initiative directly supports Israel Elwyn’s mission to provide inclusive, person-centered services that promote equal opportunity, dignity, and social justice for individuals with disabilities. Each year, thousands of job seekers are supported by Israel Elwyn’s employment programs across Israel, with successful placements in a wide range of sectors—from private companies such as hotels, retail chains, hospitals, to public institutions including the Knesset, government ministries, and local authorities.

The development of the Employment Training Hub marks a vital step in advancing inclusive employment in Israel, reinforcing Israel Elwyn’s ongoing commitment to excellence, innovation, and social impact.

In addition, the hub will provide office space for about 40 therapists and staff as well as serve as a central location for staff meetings, training, and conferences.

Building ownership will provide savings on rental expenses over the years and enable IE to select a central and accessible location in the heart of the community.  IE will be able to adapt the space and make it accessible to the specific, long-term needs of program participants and staff members.

Funding Goal: $2,600,000 USD

We are seeking to acquire and develop a permanent training hub in central Israel that will serve as a vital resource for providing employment support and skills development for individuals with disabilities. 

We welcome your generous support. Pledges can be paid over three years. Naming opportunities are available.

Recreational activities are essential for promoting well-being, independence, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Through our Supported Living Program, we serve approximately 90 adults who live in the community with varying levels of support. Each participant benefits from a personalized recreational plan, ranging from music and art to sports and sensory-friendly nature outings. These experiences are designed to reflect each individual’s interests and support their growth in confidence, friendships, and overall quality of life.

The average cost for extracurricular activities in the community in community centers is approximately $960 USD per year. To fully fund recreational plans for all 90 service recipients, we seek an annual investment of $86,400 USD. With your support, participants will enjoy monthly, adapted outings that provide cultural enrichment, creative stimulation, and safe, inclusive social engagement tailored to diverse needs.

Program Objective

To foster inclusion and enrichment for adults with disabilities living in our Community Living Program by providing accessible, person-centered recreational opportunities that promote cognitive, emotional, and social development.

Key Outcomes

• Enhanced cognitive engagement through a range of personally meaningful activities
• Increased social interaction, communication, and teamwork among peers
• Improved emotional well-being, independence, and self-confidence
• Greater community assimilation and reduced social isolation

Funding Goal

• $960 USD per resident per year
• Serving 90 residents
• Total Program Goal: $86,400 USD annually

The Early Intervention Program is intended for toddlers aged six months to three years of age and operates in accordance with Israel’s Rehabilitative Day Care Law (2000). The program provides rehabilitative services and comprehensive care to toddlers with developmental delays and/or autism during the first years of their development. Parents and other family members are a key part of this process and receive important training.

The activity schedule is based on numerous studies that assert the importance of early intervention in providing opportunities for the future. By serving these young children at an early age, they can acquire life-changing skills and achieve essential goals that might otherwise be impossible.

The program follows the same agenda as regular preschool education programs but also incorporates professional therapies, including occupational, speech, and physical therapy. In addition, a nurse is available to attend to the children’s medical needs.

Classes for toddlers with autism operate according to an integrative developmental therapeutic method, based on the DIR model (Developmental Individual-Difference Relationship-Based) for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). As part of the program, an emphasis is placed on the inclusion of the child’s parents and on providing them with personalized support.

To meet the growing demand for services in the region, a sixth classroom for toddlers with developmental delays and/or autism is scheduled to open in September 2025 at the Stein EIC, accommodating up to 10 toddlers per classroom. This expansion will increase the Center’s capacity from 50 to 60 toddlers, with each classroom accommodating up to 10 children.

The opening of a new classroom also presents a unique naming opportunity for a dedicated wing within the existing building. Israel Elwyn’s dedicated staff and therapists work collaboratively with each child’s family to develop individualized treatment plans. The addition of specialized equipment will greatly enhance both individual and group therapies, supporting each child’s growth and progress. Therapists regularly review each child’s development, with feedback from parents playing a vital role in refining and updating their individual plans.

Funding Goal: $120,000 USD

We are seeking to raise a total of $270,000 to support the renovation and equipping of the Stein Early Intervention Center (EIC) in Haifa, which serves young children with disabilities. The total cost of this project is $270,000. To date, we have successfully secured $150,000 from the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. We are now working to raise the remaining $120,000 to complete the funding. Securing this grant will strengthen our position to apply for potential matching support from the Shalem Fund, a quasi-governmental foundation that prioritizes initiatives like ours. Your support will help create a modern, fully equipped, and accessible environment, including a new classroom outfitted with essential therapeutic resources such as specialized technological tools, communication-focused software, and accessible play equipment, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive.

We welcome your generous support in making this vision a reality. Pledges may be fulfilled over a three-year period, and naming opportunities are available and can be tailored through discussion to align with your interests.

Israel Elwyn (IE) Adult Day Programs serve adults aged 21 and above who need comprehensive support throughout the day. The focus of the programs is on promoting independence, self-expression, and the enhancement of cognitive, motor, and communication skills. Additionally, the programs offer an opportunity for social interaction and provide professional therapies, such as physical, occupational, speech, music and drama. They also work to connect service recipients to various aspects of community life, such as volunteering.

IE believes that every individual has the right to an accessible environment to facilitate an active and full life within society. We believe that every person possesses abilities and inner strengths, and, as an organization supporting individuals with disabilities, we are committed to providing as many specific accommodations as possible.

In order to expand the activities offered at the center and to enable the service recipients to operate independently, we are planning a major renovation and re-equipping project for the Sabbah Center, originally built in 1997 in Jerusalem. This project will allow for a major enlargement and upgrade of our adult day programs and employment training initiatives, serving 150 individuals with disabilities. When renovated, the IE Adult Day Center will support service recipients in maintaining current skills while developing new ones related to activities of daily living (ADL), social and basic employment skills, as well as enrichment of their areas of interest.

Funding Goal: $65,000

The total cost of the Sabbah Center Renovation and Accessibility Project is $350,000. This includes $270,000 for extensive renovations and $80,000 for the installation of an elevator to ensure full accessibility for individuals with disabilities. To date, we have secured $150,000 from the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. We are preparing a grant request of $135,000 to the Shalem Fund, which is contingent upon securing matching funds. To complete the funding package and unlock the Shalem Fund’s contribution, we are seeking to raise an additional $65,000. Your support will help transform the Sabbah Center into a fully accessible, modern space that meets the needs of all its users.

Israel Elwyn (IE) serves its youngest program participants at early intervention centers (EICs) that are specifically intended and designed for children between six months and three years of age. These EICs operate in accordance with Israel’s Rehabilitative Day Care Law, 2000.

The EICs provide comprehensive support and educational programs that are essential to toddlers with developmental and other disabilities and/or autism. By serving these children at an early age, when they respond best to therapies, they can acquire life-changing skills and achieve goals that might otherwise be impossible.

Israel Elwyn is seeking funding to purchase a Grillo Pediatric Walker to be used at one of our Early Intervention Centers (EIC), which will serve approximately ten young children with a physical disability. This specialized piece of equipment is an essential tool in promoting independent movement, developmental progress, and self-confidence in children with mobility challenges.

Designed for both static and dynamic support, the Grillo Walker stands out for its versatility, adjustability, and lightweight construction. Its adaptive features enable children with significant physical disabilities or balance difficulties to experience safe, self-directed movement, often for the first time in their lives.

Purpose and Impact

• Encouraging Independent Movement: The walker allows children with disabilities to explore their environment safely and independently, which is critical for building motor skills, confidence, and autonomy.
• Therapeutic Function: It will be integrated into individual therapy plans by physical and occupational therapists, supporting postural control, gait training, and active engagement during therapy and play.
• Customizable for Growth: Its adjustable aluminum frame is designed to accommodate a growing child, ensuring long-term use and reducing the need for repeated equipment purchases.
• Supports Social-Emotional Development: Independent mobility contributes to the development of self-awareness, peer interaction, and the ability to participate more fully in group activities—key developmental milestones in early childhood.

The Grillo Walker has proven to be highly effective in early intervention settings, offering children both the freedom to move and the support they need to thrive. It helps bridge the gap between physical limitations and developmental opportunities, supporting children to engage more fully with their environment and with others.

Funding Goal:

• Cost per unit: $4,375 (or more based on needs).
• Number of children served at designated center: Approximately 10

Your support will allow us to equip our center with this vital mobility device, providing young children with the tools they need to grow stronger, more confident, and more independent. The Grillo Walker is more than equipment—it is a catalyst for progress, inclusion, and hope.

Israel Elwyn (IE) serves its youngest program participants at early intervention centers (EICs) that are specifically intended and designed for children between six months and three years of age. These EICs operate in accordance with Israel’s Rehabilitative Day Care Law, 2000.

The EICs provide comprehensive support and educational programs that are essential to toddlers with developmental and other disabilities and/or autism. By serving these children at an early age, when they respond best to therapies, they can acquire life-changing skills and achieve goals that might otherwise be impossible.

The families of these young children receive support and technical assistance in creating an appropriate environment for their toddlers. A multi-disciplinary team of professional therapists and educational staff provides integrated care through a coordinated, comprehensive approach. The specific rehabilitative equipment we plan to purchase includes a variety of tools and resources aimed at supporting both emotional development and physical activity

The pediatric LiteGait Treadmill Gait Training System is a specialized rehabilitation device designed to assist children with physical disabilities in developing and improving their walking abilities.

The system provides body-weight-supported gait training, allowing therapists, teachers, and aides to work collaboratively on mobility goals both overground and on a treadmill. The system also enables children to practice walking with minimal weight bearing on their legs, helping them develop the correct walking pattern. As they demonstrate mastery, the level of support is gradually reduced until they can walk independently with full weight bearing.

This simple yet robust system can be used with multiple children, offering flexible and repeatable support for individualized therapy.

Body-weight supported gait training offers well-documented long-term benefits, including improved functional mobility, greater endurance, and increased independence. These improvements directly enhance a child’s ability to engage more fully in family life, education, and community activities.

Funding Goal:

We are seeking support to purchase a LiteGait Treadmill Gait Training System.

• Cost per LiteGait Treadmill: $7,917

Israel Elwyn (IE) serves its youngest program participants at early intervention centers (EICs) that are specifically intended and designed for children between six months and three years of age. These EICs operate in accordance with Israel’s Rehabilitative Day Care Law, 2000.

The EICs provide comprehensive support and educational programs that are essential to toddlers with developmental and other disabilities and/or autism. By serving these children at an early age, when they respond best to therapies, they can acquire life-changing skills and achieve goals that might otherwise be impossible.

The families of these young children receive support and technical assistance in creating an appropriate environment for their vulnerable toddlers. A multi-disciplinary team of professional therapists and educational staff provides integrated care through a coordinated, comprehensive approach.

The specific rehabilitative equipment we plan to purchase includes a variety of tools and resources aimed at supporting both emotional development and physical activity

The Ripton chair offers a range of physical, cognitive, and social benefits for toddlers with disabilities. Its adaptability and therapeutic features make it a valuable tool in promoting overall well-being and developmental progress. The Ripton Treadmill also provides a controlled and safe environment for toddlers to practice walking and improve their motor skills. It supports the development of coordination, balance, and muscle strength which is vital for development and support.

During times of conflict and mandated closures of our Early Intervention Centers (EICs), the Ripton is made available on a lending basis to families who may lack access to therapeutic equipment at home. The Ripton chair plays a vital role in supporting children with physical disabilities, enabling assisted walking, promoting motor learning, and facilitating mealtime and physical therapy. Its mobility allows it to reach toddlers in their own homes.

Funding Goal:

We are seeking support to purchase a Ripton Chair.

• Cost per Ripton Chair: $3,850 (or more based on needs).

Israel Elwyn (IE) is committed to ensuring that every individual we support has access to the tools and technologies necessary to lead an active, engaged, and independent life. We believe that all individuals possess unique abilities and inner strengths, and we are dedicated to creating an environment that enables their fullest potential. Providing accessible digital tools is essential to promoting self-determination, skill development, and continuity of care, especially during times of emergency disruption and instability, such as times of crisis.

IE seeks funding to purchase adaptive tablets—specifically iPads equipped with accessible software—to be used across our national network of programs. These devices will serve as essential tools in the individual development plans of children and adults with disabilities, supporting learning, communication, and daily structure both at home and in program settings.

Purpose and Use of Tablets

The tablets will be integrated into personalized learning and therapy plans to:

• Enhance cognitive and motor skill development through interactive, accessible software.
• Support communication, self-expression, and emotional regulation during individual and group activities.
• Provide structured daily routines and digital visual schedules, especially critical during times of instability, such as during conflict or center closures.
• Enable remote therapeutic engagement, allowing professional staff to guide families in facilitating developmentally appropriate activities when in-person services are not possible.

Feedback loops will be built into the implementation, allowing service recipients and families to share their experience and satisfaction with technology. This ensures that the program evolves responsively to individual needs and changing circumstances.

Response During Wartime

The recent conflict highlighted the necessity of digital tools to maintain continuity of care. When early intervention centers such as those in northern Israel were forced to close due to IDF Home Front Command Guidelines, IE deployed a limited number of tablets with accessible apps to families, allowing toddlers to continue receiving guided developmental support at home on a lending basis. This intervention proved essential during times when parents were unable, concerned, or stressed due to the current security situation to bring their children to centers due to safety concerns.

Funding Goal:

To expand this vital initiative, we are seeking $15,000 to equip additional programs with this essential technology.

• Cost per tablet with accessible software: $1,410
• Target: Purchase of at least 10 tablets (or more based on needs)
• Total equipment cost: $14,140

These tablets are more than devices—they are lifelines for connection, structure, and developmental progress during uncertain times. With your support, we can ensure that individuals with disabilities continue to learn, grow, and communicate—wherever they are, ensuring familiarity and structure.

Israel Elwyn (IE) believes that every person has the right to an accessible environment, one that enables full participation in society and supports a self-directed, dignified life. As an organization dedicated to individuals with disabilities, we are committed to providing personalized accommodations that foster independence and inclusion. These accommodations range from adapted dishes and utensils to assistive devices for therapy (OT/PT/ST) and tools that support entry into the competitive workforce.

To enhance our capacity to customize solutions, several IE staff members have completed specialized training in 3D printing technology. We are now seeking funding to acquire a 3D printer that will support both our therapeutic and vocational programs.

3D printing technology will allow us to design and produce individualized assistive accessories, enhancing day-to-day activities, therapeutic outcomes, and participation in meaningful work. The 3D technology will be included in individual occupational and physical therapy plans and will also provide opportunities for service recipients to engage in creative, hands-on activities that promote motor skills, cognitive development, and self-expression.

While our Adult Day Programs are supported operationally by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, this funding does not extend to equipment of this kind, making private support essential to bringing this innovative, person-centered tool into our day programs.

Purpose and Impact

The 3D printer will serve multiple functions across our service platforms:

• Vocational Skill Building: Participants will take part in the product creation process, gaining practical skills in preparation, assembly, and basic manufacturing workflows.
• Evaluation Through Experience: The impact of the printer will be tracked through regular feedback from participants, who will reflect on their satisfaction, sense of accomplishment, and perceived quality of life improvements as they engage in the creation process.
• Use of the 3D printer will be part of service recipients’ personal therapy plan, in accordance with their preference, and an element of their occupational/physical therapy.

Funding Goal:

We are seeking support to purchase one 3D printer, which includes all necessary setup, installation, accessible software, and training:

• Total Cost per printer: $7,500 (or more based on needs).

In Israel, there are over 30,000 adults with intellectual disabilities whose lives are largely controlled by other people. The National Self-Advocacy Program enables individuals with intellectual disabilities to gain the skills they need to make their voices heard, to advance their rights, and to improve their quality of life.

In 2015, the National Self-Advocacy Group was created by representatives from local self-advocacy groups to initiate legislative and policy change and to promote pressing issues for individuals with disabilities. Activities included a meeting at the Knesset on the Guardianship and Supported Decision Making Law and a meeting with representatives of the Egged Transportation Company Ltd. on critical adaptations to public buses. This national activity was made possible through a unique collaboration between Israel Elwyn and Beit Issie Shapiro, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Parents of individuals with disabilities are currently their primary spokespeople. IE’s objective is to train these individuals who are often not heard, particularly those who require considerable support. 

By becoming a spokesperson, individuals with disabilities advocate for their own rights by taking part in public discussions and decision-making processes. Members of the self-advocacy group have advanced several issues in this way, and the Leadership Program is a natural extension of self-advocacy. The training is geared towards public entities, such as the police, hospitals, the education system, the Knesset, and others.

During the COVID-19 crisis, we witnessed public discourse in which, sadly, the voices of those whom the discussion concerned were not heard. An illustration of this was a media debate about which COVID-19 patients should be a high priority in hospitals for machine respiration. It  concluded that those with intellectual disabilities would be a low priority. Training as a spokesperson would enable individuals with intellectual disabilities to express their viewpoint, and, thereby, speak for themselves! 

The spokesperson’s training includes using theatrical tools when facing an audience, body language, work with various media channels (radio/television/the press/Facebook/Twitter), using personal style, knowledge of current events, debating skills, and more. The training incorporates an internship period in a government ministry or company with a focus on spokespeople.

The Self-Advocacy and Leadership Program relies fully on support from donors. A donation of $100,000 will support the annual activities of the Self-Advocacy Program including ongoing training for both the self-advocates and facilitators, professional supports by an expert in the field of self-advocacy, access to information and literature required for group deliberations an annual self-advocacy conference, marketing materials, short videos and more.