Scope of Influence: Israel & Beyond
‘ This is David … and he is my son’
Special highlights
Scope of Influence: Israel & Beyond
The child within
‘ This is David … and he is my son’
• Aleh is Israel’ s largest organization caring for severely disabled children with complex physical and cognitive complications who require support in all basic functions.
• Aleh meets all its children’ s needs- offering residential, supportive, educational, therapeutic, rehabilitative, and social activities within a 24-hour medically safe environment.
• Aleh was chosen by the government of Israel to open pioneering Rehabilitative Hospital Wings for children requiring long-term complex medical care.
• Aleh offers a framework for life- from infancy through adulthood, including an elderly geriatric center.
• Aleh is at the forefront of adapting modern technology systems to create innovative developmental programs such as Virtual Reality, a Visual-Behavioral Assessment Program, and interactive websites to foster ongoing communication with family.
“ I was never sure what to answer when people asked me how many children we have. It seems simple enough, but unfortunately, in our case it wasn’ t. You see, we have a five-year-old son who is severely disabled, both physically and mentally. And until Aleh came into our lives, we didn’ t know how to relate to him, or care for him, or even love him.
Then we were introduced to Aleh. Aleh is more than a rehabilitation center; it is a home- a supportive, caring and warm home, whose mission is to provide multi-handicapped children with a real quality of life. At Aleh, the children live twenty-four hours a day under the medical supervision and loving care of a professional and highly qualified staff. There our son receives the tools and activities that he needs to develop and grow.
• Aleh emphasizes family integrative activities, volunteer programs, and community inclusion. Its new Aleh C. A. R. E. S. educational complex seeks to mainstream special-needs children following an intensive early-childhood therapeutic program.
• Aleh has played a significant role in changing common attitudes toward the disabled by raising public awareness through lobbying efforts and community integration. The groundbreaking Aleh Negev village is a leading international model that is setting new benchmarks in the care of the disabled.
When David first came to Aleh he was so withdrawn that no one could touch him or make eye contact with him. We had no idea how to make him feel safe or show him that we loved him. Within a few months, David had begun to raise his head and look straight at the person talking to him. Now he smiles constantly and loves to be held and cuddled. His siblings are not scared of him anymore and have started asking to visit so that they can play together.
This is what I came away with: it is hard to say that these special people are just like the rest of us. Their lives are much more difficult, they deal with many more physical obstacles. Yet despite that, they have taught me so many things: to appreciate all I have, the meaning of true acceptance and, most importantly- how to offer unconditional love. I feel that I have become a truly integral part of the Aleh family.
- Scott A.- Aleh volunteer
Although David may never walk or talk, Aleh stimulates his senses, his mind and his emotions. Thanks to Aleh, David has been to the ocean and the zoo. He does daily projects with paint, clay, music and lights to expose him to various sights, sounds and experiences. He is learning to choose the foods he wishes to eat through a special computer program and a custom-designed device he is able to control.
Through giving David to Aleh, Aleh has given us our David. I am the proud mother of three beautiful children- Aleh has shown me that.”