How ALEH HaNegev Coped Under Fire

The innovative ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran rehabilitative village, located in Israel’s southern region, is a multi-faceted facility that provides severely disabled young adults the opportunity to live a rich and productive life within a safe environment. They were faced with extreme difficulties during the recent war in Gaza and their report of this period makes for compulsive reading. 
======================

Now that things have calmed down, even as we return to normal routine, we look back with pride at the way ALEH’s staff, administration, volunteers and friends all came together during Operation Protective Edge.

Here are a few highlights of the past few weeks:

Over 230 ALEH residents, all with intellectual and developmental disabilities, were living in shelters for over 6 weeks.

Over 140 rockets were fired at the Ofakim area, where ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran is located.  Three rockets landed within the village itself – the last one half an hour before the final ceasefire went into effect.

National Service girls moved into the village, making themselves available 24/7 to help during a siren and to run various activities within the shelters.  ALEH Jerusalem’s dedicated National Service Girls also began sleeping in the facility, serving as staff reinforcement at night in case of siren warnings.

Staff attendance remained at nearly 100%.  Everyone – from caregivers to paramedical staff and maintenance workers -- continued to come to work, despite the fear and danger, demonstrating a remarkable sense of responsibility and commitment.

Residents were treated to special activities by professional entertainers at least 3 times a week, bringing joy and laughter to the crowded shelters – clown shows, music and movement fun, puppet and theater etc.

ALEH’s Special Education Schools opened their doors daily throughout this time, both for residents and for the attending community children.

Despite the rockets, ALEH Bnei Brak accepted more children.  A 3-month old infant was just welcomed into Aleh Bnei Brak's Infant Ward for as long as necessary.  She was transferred from the Barzilai Medical Center in the south, where she had been in an underground reinforced shelter together with all the other hospital patients.   Another 3 children from the rocket-ridden communities in Ashdod and Tifrach have joined Aleh Bnei Brak's special education school….   
Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran’s outpatient Rehabilitation Center was open throughout this period. Therapists came to work daily to serve the patients who braved the trip to the village in order to continue the treatment and therapies so vital to their rehabilitation.

A Day Camp for children of staff members was opened at ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran.  Some 35 children whose parents are caregivers, secretaries, school assistants and maintenance workers attended the daily day camp, where they were close to their parents in a safe environment.  The camp was staffed by parents and volunteers from all over Israel.

Workers received ongoing emotional support from the ALEH’s social worker staff and psychologists.  They were also treated to medical massages, hot meals and various incentives during their shifts, activities and special shows from some of Israel’s famous entertainers.  We plan to treat them to a day of recreation as a gesture of appreciation for their dedication during this critical time.

While dealing with the immediate day-to-day ramifications of the war, we must also plan for the short and long-term future.  It is clear that there is a lack of extant resources and an urgent need for more comprehensive medical, paramedical and rehabilitative services in the Negev/southern region.  To that end, a Rehabilitation Hospital is being planned onsite at Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran, to respond to the hundreds of residents of the Negev region who will require in-patient rehabilitation. 

Therapeutic Horseback Riding

From Aleh Hanegev comes a great story that I want to share with you
The Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program at ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran has made great strides forward – and residents are riding to success!

A pilot program was instituted a few months ago, and the results have proven amazingly successful! Horses and special carriages designed for the disabled are brought in from the north ever week, and a group of residents with varying disabilities participated in each pilot test, some as riders and some as passengers on specialized carriages pulled by one of the horses. Either a volunteer or Aleh staff member accompanied each resident, often walking alongside the horse or carriage or sitting together with the resident on the horse or cart. In many cases, a wheel chair was hoisted onto the carriage so as to ensure proper posturing and balance.

Before setting up the program, the physical conditions of the main track at the village had to be adjusted to accommodate the horses’ hooves, pebbles were removed from the smaller track, and sun shades were installed along both paths.

The program tracked the emotional responses of participants, as well as measuring balance, reaction between the rider and the horse, interest generated, speech and communication involving the activity, alertness to what was happening in the background and cognition of the entire process.

In addition to horsing around, participants have demonstrated improved physical abilities, balance and coordination while at the same time releasing tension and energy in a positive way and improved self-confidence.


The Riding Program at Aleh Negev-Nahlat Eran has proven so successful that it will be continued for an additional period of time and may eventually be incorporated into the school’s permanent curriculum. Ride On!

Even the Disabled are Under Attack

Aleh Hanegen is the village caring for Israel’s disabled. They are under attack from HAMAS


• In the past 24 hours, a rocket landed in the Safari Center of Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran and another rocket injured one of our workers in a direct hit to her car on her way to the night shift in the village.

• Residents have been sleeping in sheltered rooms in Aleh Negev and Aleh Moriah in Gedera, including highly-dependent residents requiring round-the-clock nursing care.

• Homeland Security and VIP officers visited the village to review safety measures in effect, while social workers provide ongoing support to staff.

• A Day Care center opened in Aleh Negev for children of workers. The children happily interacted with young residents from the hospital wing.

• Although school is officially closed; vocational programs and therapies are being held inside residences or sheltered rooms.

• Aleh Bnei Brak has taken in 2 disabled youngsters from the south of Israel; they are currently staying in the residence and attending the school on premises. The facility remains on high alert; all residents are moved quickly and efficiently into protected shelters when sirens sound.

• Evacuation procedures were practiced in Aleh Jerusalem after the code red alarm sounded on Friday night. A dedicated team of volunteers signed up to sleep in the residences every night.

• In addition to absorbing disabled people from the southern region who lack shelters in their own homes, Aleh Negev is currently caring for a Thai man who was injured in a previous rocket attack near the Kissufim Crossing. During every siren, staff provide him with lots of emotional and physical support.

The staff and volunteers at all of Aleh’s facilities have been exemplary in their dedication, performing their jobs under fire. They are on duty round the clock, putting their lives on hold to ensure the safety of residents and preserve an air of normalcy and calm

iPADS at ALEH - MORE THAN SIMPLE ENTERTAINMENT

The Aleh Hanegev center http://www.aleh.org/eng/ deals with the community of disabled children and young adults.

The following story relates how the new technologies are creating opportunities for development.

When Gila brought her iPad to work, she never dreamed what the ramifications would be for Einat, a special-needs resident at Aleh Moriah. But this amazing gadget is now providing Einat and her friends with an entirely new window of opportunity for development and communication!

Gila, an occupational therapist, had downloaded a picture application onto her iPad for her own young daughter. She decided to show it to Einat, in the hopes of provoking a reaction. Einat had never shown much motivation, or demonstrated any ability or understanding of colors and shapes, so Gila was amazed when Einat was able to ‘copy’ a picture of a house – down to the exact roof and number of windows.

What made the moment more significant – Gila sent the picture to Einat’s father via email on the iPad, and Einat’s father was able to express his joy and pride on the spot, directly through Skype! Since that breakthrough moment, Einat has been able to communicate regularly with her parents in Tzfat (northern Israel), sending them photos and video messages in real time. Because they are located so far away, Einat’s parents could only travel to see her occasionally; with this newfound way of interacting via iPad the family connection has grown much stronger – and Einat has simply blossomed!

Because iPads work with a simple touch screen, even the most disabled people are able to use the specialized applications and games. But beyond providing entertainment, the iPads have helped our residents uncover hidden abilities! They have shown themselves capable of drawing, interacting, choosing music, actively participating in cognitive skills-building, and independently engaging in sensory stimulation – all things they would not have been able to do otherwise.

A Day At Aleh

Aleh is Israel's largest network of residential facilities for children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. http://www.aleh.org/eng/index.asp They provide 650 children in Israel with high-level medical and rehabilitative care in four residential facilities.

I wonder if we really understand what is needed to take care of these disadvantaged children. Let’s look at a day in the life of Shira

Wakeup

Shira wakes up to the smiling face of her caregiver, Naama, who showers Shira, puts on her body brace and splints, and helps her choose her clothes.

Breakfast

Seated in her specialized chair, Shira enjoys her breakfast of scrambled eggs and cereal as Naama helps her grasp a spoon.

School

Shira maneuvers her specially-adapted wheelchair into her classroom, where she greets her six friends, their teacher and assistant. Today, they enjoy petting Bobbie during pet therapy. This is followed by a computer rehab session and a variety of cognitive-development games.

Snack


Shira and her friends participate in a group snack time program, with a communication therapist leading the children in alternative communication devices to express their choices. Today, Danny chooses applesauce and chocolate milk.


Private Therapy


Shira's physical therapist helps her develop better muscle control and stamina. Shira relaxes in a calming, soundproof room full of lights, colors, aromas, vibrations and music.


Lunch


The speech therapist joins the nutritionist to observe Shira’s improved ability to eat by herself and digest her food, and to plan the next steps in encouraging a higher level of independence.


Rest Time


Shira and her friends close their eyes for a well-deserved rest. Naama finishes her shift and Tali takes her place.


Social Activity


Shira and her friends enjoy a short outing to the nearby playground with a group of volunteers.

Afternoon Fun

Michael, a professional medical clown, blows up balloons and draws huge smiles from Shira and her friends. With Tali's help, the group finger-paints – one of their favorite activities.

Dinner

Tali follows the new set of instructions left by the speech therapist and Shira tries to get the meatballs and vegetables in her mouth all by herself. Tali jots down a quick report on Shira’s achievements.

Medical Check

In the clinic Shira smiles at the nurses, who check her blood-pressure and respiration. A rehabilitative assistant helps clear Shira's lungs and upper airway from excess secretions.

Bedtime

"Sweet dreams," whispers Tali, as she secures Shira’s bed rail and tucks her in with a goodnight kiss.

From Slavery to Freedom

I have written in the past about the village at Aleh Hanegev http://www.aleh.org/eng/ that deals with a person's disabilities in its many forms. The story below is really inspiring and is well worth reading to the end

Dvir, a resident of Ashkelon, was diagnosed as severely cognitively disabled at birth. Coupled with cerebral palsy and severe motor disabilities, he was considered very low-functioning, and his weak control over the muscles in his mouth made it impossible to understand him when he spoke. Unfortunately, repeated failures while trying communication boards led to his refusal to use them as an alternative means of communication.

At age 22 his parents brought him to live in Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran, a groundbreaking rehabilitative village for children and adults with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. Aleh Negev is home to over 130 disabled residents, most of whom are diagnosed with medium to severe cognitive disabilities and who cannot speak at all.

“From the moment I met Dvir, it was clear that he was different,” says Masada Sekely, Director of the village. That first indication occurred when Dvir was shown a picture of boat and asked to describe what he saw. Dvir answered that it was a canoe.

"We asked him, ‘How do you know that this is a canoe?’ relates Sekely. “He answered that he once went on a trip to the North, when he sailed in a canoe. This was a clear indication of his ability to remember,” she adds.

A year and a half ago one of the volunteers, a drama teacher, decided to teach Dvir to play a harmonica. Physically, it seemed to be impossible. “His mouth was always open,” says Inbar Lazar-Shapiro, Dvir’s social worker. But the volunteer refused to give up. He taught him how to purse his lips and blow, working with candles and learning to blow them out. They moved onto the harmonica, and with persistence, Dvir mastered the skill.

But the ongoing practice did something else as well: Dvir’s ability to speak improved drastically.

As soon as it became easier for people to understand what he was saying, Dvir began to share his feelings and thoughts with the therapy staff. His feelings revealed a rich inner world and an unimagined cognitive level. He told the staff that he wants to move to another home, where he can be with friends with whom he can speak. He put his thoughts into a letter that he asked his therapist to type for him:

Hello, everyone. I want to tell you how I feel. I don’t have any friends here who can speak…I feel lonely here in the village; I don’t have anyone to talk to and share things with besides for the workers…. I cry at night and think that I don’t have what to do here…I can’t talk to any other resident because they won’t understand me and they can’t answer me. I am not retarded and I think I am on a much higher level than the other people here. I hope you understand me. Dvir
Recently, Dvir was re-evaluated by the village professional staff and diagnosed as having light-to-medium cognitive disabilities. He understands everything that goes on around him, and despite his speech difficulties, he takes an active part in conversations. “There is a wide gap between his physical and cognitive abilities,” asserts Lazar-Shapiro.

A few months ago Israel’s Welfare Department Placement Committee convened to meet with Dvir and to discuss placing him in a different facility, with people more suited to his cognitive level. The Aleh Negev administration is in full agreement, and hopefully Dvir will soon move to a daycare center in Beer Sheva.

“There is no question that Dvir’s story is extremely unusual. You feel that you changed an entire world. You gave a person hope for a normal life. It will be very difficult for us to part from Dvir, but we know he will be in a place that is better for him,” conclude Sekely and Lazar-Shapiro. And Dvir says, “I think about moving all the time and I also dream about it at night.”

Yes, they can: Israeli call center employs the disabled

A unique business empowers people with a range of disabilities to succeed in the workplace that traditionally shunned them Call Yachol (www.callyachol.co.il) is a one-of-a-kind Israeli call center employing 180 Jewish and Arab disabled adults.

In Hebrew, the name means “Everyone Can.” Psychologist Gil Winch, founder of the venture, says there is no reason for these employees’ mental or physical limitations to keep them from excelling on the job. But most have suffered from being shunned by mainstream employers and lack self-confidence in their potential. Up to 90 percent of severely disabled adults face chronic unemployment.

Winch implemented a parent-based management model where workers are given affection and have scheduled time for team fun. The unusual arrangement has garnered interest from people in several countries looking to replicate the idea.

See video at http://www.youtube.com/embed/wip61zrjGZs

Now based Rishon Lezion, future Call Yachol centers are planned for Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

Rowing Helps Cancer Survivors and the Disabled

The Daniel Rowing Centre in Tel Aviv caters to disabled Israeli athletes, breast cancer survivors and at-risk kids, but is open to anyone looking for an effective and fun way to get fit.

Many of the 53 members of the Daniel Rowing Centre in Tel Aviv began rowing as part of their physical rehabilitation program and turned it into a competitive sport.

One disabled former soldier who began at Daniel went on to represent Israel in the Beijing Paralympics. Now he's in training for the 2012 London games.

Others were referred to the center after breast cancer surgery as a way to strengthen arm muscles weakened by treatment and surgical procedures.

Opened in 2003, the center also has a Sea of Friends program for children at risk. But its latest task is getting the word out that rowing is beneficial to just about anyone. See the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O_eiueFHHg

A Theraputic Music Garden

Following on from an earlier blog "Drumming on Heart Strings" telling a story about Aleh Hanegev, a village caring for the disabled http://haifadiarist.blogspot.com/2010/05/drumming-on-heart-strings.html , now comes a lovely story of the installation of a therapeutic Music Garden. a gift to Aleh Negev from Colin and Pamela Wagman and Allan and Carole Wagman, in memory of their parents.















The garden features instruments that are easily accessible to mobile and wheelchair bound residents from a variety of positions. A mix of sounds, colours, shapes and textures encourage sensory interaction, and the instruments can be played by a simple banging of the fist or sweep of the hands – perfect for people who have limited mobility but who nonetheless enjoy creating music just like the rest of us.

In the year since its dedication, the Musical Garden has proven to be a smashing success from a therapeutic perspective, and has earned ringing endorsements from the diverse population who make use of it every day. The sounds of music emanating from the garden have provided hours of enjoyment and benefit for the cognitively and physically disabled residents of the village, offering a relaxing environment that encourages contact with nature and the outdoor world, while also stimulating the senses of sight, hearing and touch.

Much more can be read at http://www.aleh.org/eng/news.asp?AID=397

Drumming Heart Strings" - Part 2

In the midst of all the political problems we face, life has to go on for the disabled in Israel. I wrote three weeks ago about a village, Aleh Hanegev, that cares for the disabled of all ages 24/7. See blog http://haifadiarist.blogspot.com/2010/05/drumming-on-heart-strings.html

I received a comment from one reader complaining that “Aleh encourages parents to institutionalize their severely disabled children thereby denying them the warmth and love of family living that is every child's entitlement. It siphons off precious government and charitable funding that could be channeled instead toward assisting these children while they live with their parents and siblings.

While the rest of the enlightened world has been progressing away from institutionalization (actually shutting them down) because of its proven detriment to children condemned to live there, Israel has actually been promoting and expanding this obsolete option.

Parents of disabled children, like myself, must fight an uphill battle to win even paltry government assistance because of Aleh's detrimental influence.”

This made me think, was there any justification for this point of view? Then I received the following letter from the parent of one of the disabled living at Aleh Hanegev

"I would like to share with you my personal experience with Aleh Negev, a rehabilitative village for severely disabled young adults in Israel’s southern region.

I raised my son, who suffers from a degenerative form of epilepsy, in the US until the age of 16.5, battling to find stimulating day programs and appropriate therapies. In doing so I gave up a career and moved to 3 different countries, until I found Aleh Negev in Israel.

I never thought the day would come that I would have to make the tough decision to place my son in a home. I truly and maybe naively believed that I would be able to care for all his needs as long as I live.

But fate had a different plan for me. My son was deteriorating, and he lost the ability to speak, walk or care for himself.

He needed to be fed, changed and cared for 24 hours a day, while undergoing debilitating seizures at any time.

I found myself dependent on unreliable caregivers whom I could not trust with my son, and I realized that this solution, although very convenient for me at times, was not the best care possible for my son.

I came to Aleh Negev as a tourist, and I saw a place where dedicated, hardworking people take care of the most severely handicapped children in a loving and supporting professional environment. These people are indeed blessed to be a part of this wonderful project.

My dilemma was extremely difficult, but I decided to bring my son to Aleh Negev and move to Israel with my family to be near him.

Aleh Negev provides these unfortunate children with state of the art, outstanding care that I have not seen anywhere else.

As a responsible parent, I think I made the best choice for my son, and for the rest of our family.

Aleh Negev gives me the peace of mind of knowing that my son is receiving the best care possible: that he is in a stimulating and caring environment, in a place where all his needs are taken care of, in a comfortable setting and a loving surrounding. "

There is no specific solution to this parental conflict, each case must be treated as an individual case.