To Table of Contents other challenges , following an injury during his early infancy . At the age of eight , Yossi experienced a communication breakthrough and the Samuels fulfilled their promise to help families with similar challenges by founding Shalva .
Upon the organization ’ s inception , Shalva ’ s original and mainstay program , the After School Activity Center , immediately filled a gaping void in rehabilitative opportunities for children with disabilities in Israel . Over the years , as the program developed to include individual and group therapies , summer camps , music bands , and sports teams ; parallel respite and family support components became organizational staples as well .
Shalva continued to establish a host of early intervention rehabilitative and educational programs , offering a holistic continuum of disability services from infancy to adulthood .
Shalva has been distinguished with several prizes and endorsements ; including the Ruderman Prize for Inclusion , the President of Israel ’ s Prize for Excellence , and the Knesset Speaker ’ s Quality of Life Prize . In 2018 , Shalva was awarded consultative status to the United Nations , distinguished to provide consultation and guidance on disability issues .
Shalva ’ s management standards continue to be recognized by the ISO 9001 / 2008 certification and Midot ’ s Seal for Outstanding Effectiveness . Through over thirty years of partnerships with government ministries , corporations , academic institutions , social development groups , and communities worldwide ; Shalva continues to successfully infuse disability inclusion into public policy , cultural platforms , and social discourse .
Of the many programs and services offered , the most
www . shalva . org utilized is Shalva ’ s Me and My Mommy program , a unique early intervention program for infant with disabilities and their parents . The program provides rehabilitative therapies and support services to 120 new babies and their parents every year . While this is not Shalva ’ s largest program , it is the most utilized because people travel from across Israel to attend the program and the majority of infants born with Down syndrome in Israel every year begin their journey at Shalva .
The Shalva Band is a product of the Shalva organization .
The Band members ’ musical talents were discovered and developed within Shalva ’ s music therapy programs when they participated in Shalva ’ s rehabilitative programs as children . Today , the Shalva Band has a recording studio at the Shalva National Center where they often practice between performances .