אולי את האחת?!
איזה ארגון יכול להבטיח לך השפעה חברתית, צמיחה אישית והנאה גם יחד?
מה אנחנו מבטיחים לכם?
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.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
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
Funding Goal
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.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
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.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
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
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:
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.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
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:
Funding Goal:
We are seeking support to purchase one 3D printer, which includes all necessary setup, installation, accessible software, and training:
Opening in June 2025, this center will serve Arab communities in northern Israel and provide employment training for inclusion in the workforce. Participants will gain technological and hands-on skills in Arabic, including public transportation navigation, budgeting, resume building, and computer use. The center fills a significant regional gap and is the first of its kind for the Arab community in the area.
Supporting this project will directly impact marginalized communities, strengthen inclusion, and extend Israel Elwyn’s reach to new communities. It will ensure people with disabilities, regardless of background, have access to tools, training, and opportunities to lead lives of their choosing.
Funding Goal: $100,000 USD
For this project, we are seeking $100,000 in funding to fully equip the center and expand its offerings.
This support will enable:
Founded in June 1985, Elwyn El Quds is the first program dedicated to serving people with disabilities within the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City. It operates from a historic 900-year-old building dating back to the Mamluk dynasty, located on King Faisal Street. This site overlooks the Dome of the Rock and also houses the organization’s headquarters.
Elwyn El Quds is committed to being a leading provider of educational, vocational, and rehabilitative services for children and adults with disabilities within the Old City of Jerusalem and surrounding areas. Our mission is to support individuals so they can live as independently and productively as possible, making choices in their daily lives that many take for granted.
With a focus on innovation and adaptability, Elwyn El Quds has continually evolved its programs to meet the specific needs of the local community. Today, Elwyn El Quds serves over 1,000 individuals with disabilities, from toddlers to seniors, most of whom come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
El Quds Adult Day Center
The El Quds Adult Day Center is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for its participants through activities that promote overall well-being. These include meaningful work, personal hygiene support, creative arts, sports, and social skills development. Each participant receives therapeutic, and nursing care tailored to their developmental and functional needs, alongside preventative and follow-up medical care to ensure comprehensive health and safety.
Currently, the Adult Day Center operates across three locations:
The El Quds Branch in East Jerusalem currently operates an adult day program in rented spaces in East Jerusalem. This space is not designed to optimally meet the programs’ needs. In addition, this program needs to move to a new location when building owners reclaim their spaces for other purposes. This is difficult, as program participants need to adapt to new public transportation routes, neighborhoods, etc.
To respond to these challenges, Israel Elwyn would like to purchase and, if needed, refurbish a 400-square-meter (approximately 4,000 square feet) building in the Atarot Industrial Park in northern Jerusalem. Building ownership will guarantee stability, enable infrastructure customization to meet program needs, and allow for program expansion.
Funding Goal: $1,513,600 USD
We are seeking to raise $1,513,600 USD in support of this project, which has a total estimated cost of $2,451,400. This comprehensive budget includes the purchase, renovation, and equipping of the building. In addition to this fundraising effort, we are actively pursuing two significant sources of support: a request in progress to the Shalem Fund for $337,800 and another request submitted to the Beresin Fund of the American Friends of Israel Elwyn for $600,000. By supporting this initiative, you will play an instrumental role in creating a stable, nurturing environment for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to lead enriched lives within their community. This project offers a unique naming opportunity, enabling you to honor your commitment to inclusion and community building.
We welcome your generous support. Pledges can be paid over three years. Naming opportunities are available.
For U.S. and Canadian donors, please make your donation through American Friends of Israel Elwyn or Canadian Friends of Israel Elwyn to ensure that your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
Founded in 1984, Israel Elwyn (IE) is the largest nonprofit program provider for more than 5,400 toddlers, children, youth, young adults, adults and seniors with disabilities in Israel. Together with individuals with disabilities and society-at-large, we work as an organization that initiates groundbreaking changes in the field of disabilities.
Our mission is to develop an array of innovative programs, support, and means of accessibility for individuals with disabilities, while striving for excellence of service and the creation of a just society. Israel Elwyn is committed to providing the highest quality of comprehensive support services, utilizing state-of-the-art methodologies, and promoting professional development among its staff.
We are Israel’s leader in the areas of early intervention, youth transition, vocational training and employment, supported living and retiree services. Our award-winning programs offer tools and training so that participants can maximize their independence, inclusion in the community and a life of dignity.
Israel Elwyn is recognized as the consultant of choice for many organizations in Israel and around the globe. Our Academy for Continuing Education is a resource for IE’s staff, program participants, and a wide range of professionals who work with individuals with disabilities.
A trusted service partner to the Israeli government, Israel Elwyn receives public funding to run its basic day-to-day programming. However, government support does not fully cover the capital expenses of Israel Elwyn’s centers or the innovative programs that create a crucial safety net for those in need. As Israel Elwyn’s reach continues to expand, the organization relies on the generosity of its donors to support the growing needs.
By supporting the organization’s work, you give countless individuals with disabilities across Israel a chance to live richer, more meaningful lives.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il
Israel Elwyn’s Academy for Continuing Education and Professional Services operates in accordance with the values stated in IE’s vision, which are to develop an organizational culture of learning, together with the management, documentation, and distribution of knowledge.
The Academy offers an ongoing and comprehensive curriculum of training programs, and holds seminars, conferences, lectures and workshops for a variety of audiences, such as professionals and individuals with disabilities and their families. The Academy’s courses convey professional knowledge and skills in the fields of education, rehabilitation, and other areas.
The Academy’s Objectives and Goals:
Among the trainings in recent years for our service recipients were courses for becoming preschool teacher assistants in day care centers and kindergartens; assistant chefs in the food industry; administrative coordinators using digital tools; dental assistants; starting an independent business; as well as language skills (Hebrew/English); computer skills: social media and basic programming; developing soft and vocational skills; and more.
Funding Goal: $150,000 USD annually
To make the work of the Academy possible, support in the amount of $150,000 is needed annually. These annual donations will be appropriately recognized at the Academy.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
For over thirty years, Israel Elwyn has operated job placement programs to increase the number of individuals with disabilities employed in the competitive job market in employer-employee relationships. Over 1,500 employees with disabilities and around 3,000 employers are supported by the staff of IE’s job placement programs annually nationwide. IE places great value on leading social change through the gainful employment of individuals with disabilities, so they may receive salaries, social benefits and the possibility to grow personally and professionally.
To achieve this goal, there is also a need to provide support to the employers and their staff, which includes:
Since the 1990s, Israel Elwyn and the Aroma Espresso Bar chain have shared a unique employment collaboration and, recently, they initiated a “Food Truck” – a social café outside IE’s Adult Day Center in Holon that is operated by the service recipients and enables interaction with the community in a dynamic and busy industrial area.
IE wishes to mobilize the over 3,000 employers that we support, as well as our placement partners, to become an “exclusive club” and serve as a model for other employers. Thus, the employer would become an “ambassador” to raise awareness and to appeal to an increasing number of employers to open their businesses to employees with disabilities. IE’s professional staff would provide support and information, while acting as mediators in the referral of relevant knowledge.
Membership in this “exclusive club” will provide a variety of opportunities, including employers’ evenings, roundtables, professional training and information about the benefits of employing individuals with disabilities, marketing strategies to expand the number of employees with disabilities, assisting employers with information, an online support call center and more.
A donation of $100,000 will help us to expand the number of employers who partner with Israel Elwyn and to advance the creation of an egalitarian society in which fair and gainful employment of individuals with disabilities is considered normal and valuable.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
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.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
Over the past 10 years, IE has supported 1,000s of employees with disabilities working in the competitive job market, many of whom are now approaching retirement and have expressed their wish to participate in an inclusive retiree program.
Unfortunately, upon reaching old age, many families can no longer support these retired participants, and they are forced to live in segregated institutions outside the community.
In addition, the state provides support to retirees without disabilities starting from age 67 (depending on gender) and IE’s service recipients often reach retirement at younger ages. This means that retirees with disabilities are frequently not eligible for support for inclusion in regular retiree centers.
IE believes that similar to retirees without disabilities, those with disabilities should be able to remain living in familiar surroundings, with the necessary supports. Therefore, in recent years, IE has placed a high priority on the inclusion of retired individuals with disabilities in inclusive programs. The establishment of IE’s pioneering Retiree Center over 20 years ago has improved the quality of life and health of these service recipients and has provided them with the possibility of continuing to live in the community.
The Inclusive Retiree Program creates collaborations between retirees supported by IE’s staff and other community-based retiree centers and activities. This provides a natural extension for the retirees after years of inclusion in the competitive job market.
As part of the program, each retiree develops an individual inclusion plan together with IE’s staff, with a weekly schedule and social activities in the community. The goal is to build a personal inclusion plan within “regular” retiree centers and to support them during the process, while also transforming the preconceptions in the community-at-large.
The individual plan allows participants to increase their inclusion in the community as much as they would like. For example, they could do part-time work during the week and be included in activities at a retiree center for seniors without disabilities or they could receive support for inclusion in classes at a local community center, and other combination.
A donation of $30,000 will help to develop this unique program and support the integration of 20 retirees with disabilities into inclusive community programs supported by Israel Elwyn’s professional staff, and would include training for a successful, inclusive process of aging for the retirees, their families and the support staff.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
The Shoval (Equal in Education) Program enables individuals with cognitive disabilities or autism to enter institutions of higher education and learn various academic subjects, including communications, law, medicine, and psychology, while participating in the overall academic experience together with students without disabilities.
Established in 2018, the program was made possible through a partnership between the Reichman University’s (IDC Herzliya) Rabin Leadership Program and Israel Elwyn. The program primarily aims to increase inclusion of students with disabilities in institutions of higher education, to promote a sense of accomplishment, and to advance equal opportunity.
In addition, the Shoval Program creates an opportunity for students without disabilities to interact with and learn about individuals with disabilities, often for the first time. Furthermore, scholarship and student volunteers can participate in the program by teaching courses or becoming program coordinators.
Designed for an average of 12 service recipients from IE’s Job Placement Program per cohort, who are currently employed, the program takes place once a week, one afternoon a week. On completion of the program, which is conducted over one semester, there is a formal graduation ceremony.
Currently, the program operates at the Reichman University (IDC Herzliya), Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. In the future, the plan is to expand the program to additional educational institutions around the country.
As the Shoval (Equal in Education) Program is not government-funded, we rely on donations.
Funding Goal: $100,000 USD Annually
Currently, for this program, we need to raise an annual sum of $100,000 to run the program at four universities to cover the following:
The Shoval Program represents a meaningful step toward a more inclusive society, where individuals with disabilities are given real opportunities to participate in academic life alongside their peers. Your support helps us continue breaking down barriers and building bridges between communities. With your partnership, we can ensure the program not only continues at its current universities but also expands to reach even more individuals with disabilities across Israel.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
Founded in 1991, Israel Elwyn’s Community Living Program offers support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in the community. Our apartments are located in various neighborhoods in Jerusalem and Herzliya and have up to six residents each who are supported by a dedicated team of direct support professionals, coordinators, and social workers.
During the mornings, residents can choose to work in the competitive job market, attend employment training, or participate in adult day programs or retiree programs based on their interests. In the afternoons, they engage in recreational activities of their choice.
The primary goal of the program is to equip residents with the skills and resources that promote community inclusion. Through individualized plans, we strive to provide them with the tools and support needed to enrich their daily lives, participate in meaningful activities, and increase their independence and opportunities for equal living in the community. Residents regularly access community resources, including recreational programs, health services (HMOs), residential association committees, and local supermarkets.
To further this mission, we are seeking resources to purchase an additional community-based apartment, either in Jerusalem or Herzliya, to accommodate more individuals in inclusive residential settings. Purchasing, rather than renting, provides long-term stability, ensuring our residents can continue to live in supportive and secure environments. After spending much of their lives in larger residential facilities, these residents will thrive in a stable, community-centered home that supports their independence.
Your support will make it possible to purchase an apartment where each apartment will be equipped with a safe room, which ensures the safety and peace of mind of our residents and staff. By being a partner in our mission of purchasing an apartment with a saferoom , you will play a transformative role in making community living a lasting reality for individuals with disabilities, helping them lead enriched, autonomous lives. The apartment will include a secure safe room (mamad), as required by Israeli safety regulations, and will undergo comprehensive modifications (renovations) to ensure it is fully accessible and suited to the needs of individuals with disabilities. Once completed, the apartment will offer a safe, inclusive, and accessible living environment for individuals with disabilities.
Funding Goal: $1,180,000 USD
We are seeking to raise $1,180,000 to support the purchase, renovation, and accessibility adaptation of an additional apartment in either Herzliya or Jerusalem.
We welcome your generous support. Pledges can be paid over three years.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or a tour, please contact Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations, at sharone@IsraelElwyn.org.il.
Israel Elwyn serves its youngest program participants at early intervention centers designed for young children between ages six months to three years, in accordance with Israel’s Rehabilitative Day Care Law, 2000.
These centers offer comprehensive support and educational programs essential to toddlers with developmental and other disabilities and/or autism.
Serving the children at an early age when they respond best to therapies enables them to acquire life-changing skills and achieve goals. In addition, the families of the children with disabilities receive support and technical assistance to create an appropriate environment for these vulnerable toddlers. A multi-disciplinary team of professional therapy and educational staff provides integrated care through a coordinated, comprehensive approach.
In 2008, Israel Elwyn began operating an Early Intervention Program in Karmiel in two classrooms of a renovated building in the center of the city. Today, there are five renovated classrooms in three different locations in the city. Naturally, this situation is far from optimal, as not only are the services not centralized in one location, but the classrooms do not meet the needs of the children being served.
The new Early Intervention Center currently under construction will bring all services together in one building designed specifically to serve the support needs of the toddlers and their families. By virtue of its design and latest equipment, it will significantly improve the services provided and contribute to the children’s quality of life and to their rehabilitation process.
The new Early Intervention Center in Karmiel will continue to serve 52 young participants (between the ages of six months to three years) with autism and other developmental disabilities from the Karmiel/Galilee region.
The fact that the Karmiel EIC is centrally located will reinforce this growing city’s role as a hub in the Galilee, serving individuals from the entire northern region of Israel.
The estimated cost for construction, equipment, and related expenses totals nearly $3.4 million. The National Insurance Institute and the Shalem Foundation, a quasi-governmental entity, have committed to funding 47% of the cost. The balance must be raised through donations.
Donors making gifts of $10,000 or more will be recognized on a donor wall mounted within the building and offered a naming opportunity.
