Ashira Elementary and High School

for Girls with Complex Disabilities

About Us

Ashira provides a professional and pleasant learning environment for girls with intellectual disabilities and those on the autistic spectrum. Our goal is to help these girl achieve maximum quality of life and independence. We love and respect each and every student, and we believe that it is possible to lead each one towards greater interpersonal communication and self-motivation.

Professionalism and Enrichment

Occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, emotional therapy, assisted communication technologies (including personal iPads and computers), music, sports, art, puppet theater, hydrotherapy, animal therapy, therapeutic horseback riding.

Target Population

Girls ages 6-21 with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and/or autism.

Professional Staff

Our staff includes certified special education teachers, health professionals, , social worker, guidance counselor, medical counselor, school nurse.

Hours of Operation

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Vacations parallel those of the Ministry of Education.

Independence

One of our most important goals is encouraging independence, beginning with basic skills, such as eating, and including more complex tasks, such as using public transportation. All activities are broken down into smaller skill-sets that are practiced repeatedly, until the final goal is achieved.

Accessibility

The classrooms, curriculum, and professional guidance are provided in accordance with the specific needs, disabilities, and functional level of each student.

Advanced Technology

At Ashira, we utilize many advanced and innovative technologies to help our students advance. These include iPads and communication devices to encourage interpersonal communication and self-expression. In addition, we use sophisticated equipment for specific complex disabilities, including a computer that assist in focusing visual attention, as well as special physical therapy equipment.

Interpersonal Communication

The students at Ashira learn social skills and appropriate interaction with their environment. Our curriculum, which focuses on alternative communication skills and speaking up for oneself, encourages students to initiate communication, articulate their needs, and make choices on their own.

Integration in the Community

Ashira runs an inclusion program to help the students learn about proper conduct and tact in social settings.

Personal Safety

Ashira has a comprehensive personal safety curriculum

Hygiene and Appearance

The students at Ashira learn about proper self-care. They are toilet-trained and achieve a high level of ability in the realms of personal hygiene and self-care.

Preparing for Adulthood

Beginning in 9^th grade, the students take courses geared towards attaining skills that will help them in their adult lives.

Age and Community Appropriate

All activities at Ashira are run to parallel those of schools in the general religious community. Classes are divided by grade level, there is a school uniform, and the students learn skills and subjects that are studied by their counterparts.

Benefits

• Seeach Sod has achieved international recognition for its professional approach to special education.
• Infrastructure: hydrotherapy pool, therapeutic horseback riding, Snoezelen room under one roof.
• Wide range of professional staff, including a nurse, physical therapist, guidance councelor, occupational therapist, and speech therapist.
• Support for parent, including personal guidance, workshops, and parents’ evenings.
• Social activities and experiences

Address: 7 Adrikal, Jerusalem

Phone: 02-640-5045

Principal: Mrs. Ella Biderman – 053-312-3162

Registration Department:

Phone: 02-640-5025/ 053-312-3184

Fax: 02-640-1525

Email: [email protected]

-

Yeshivat Otzar HaTorah

About Us

Our goal is to provide students with a full yeshiva experience in an authentic Torah environment, with emphasis on Torah study and learning with a chavrusa. At the same time, we emphasize professional training for future employment, independence, and functional skills

We believe in our students’ ability to live independent lives and to integrate and contribute to their families and communities.

Target Population

Boys ages 14-21 with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.

Staff

Teachers and Rabbeim who have been trained in special education.

Hours of Operation

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Vacations parallel those of the Ministry of Education.

Curriculum

The teachers and staff at Yeshivat Otzar HaTorah, the only yeshiva of its kind for young men with intellectual disabilities, have constructed a professional pedagogic curriculum for gemara and Jewish studies on the school, class, and individual levels. The curriculum places emphasis on learning skills and understanding concrete ideas. Every class includes both theoretical studies and accompanying skill tasks. For example, when the students study a mishna on the topic of the different times of day, they participate in activities on the concept of time.

Preparation for Employment

Time is set aside in the yeshiva schedule for courses that prepare students for future employment. Students volunteer at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center and at Chasdei Naomi.

Social Life

We encourage social activities and provide a wide range of experiences and opportunities for community integration. We often host important rabbinic leaders and teachers, as well as well-known public figures and singers, such that our events are particular exciting and significant in the eyes of the students.

Community Integration

Students learn about proper conduct in public, appropriate behavior during prayer, and how to honor elders. It is a pleasure to take them to shul!

Independence

The yeshiva runs a comprehensive program to advance the students in the realms of motor ability, reading and comprehension, and independence.

Professional Staff

The goal of Yeshivat Otzar HaTorah is to help our students achieve maximum functional independence and academic achievement. To this end, our staff includes occupational therapists, speech therapists, and physical therapists.

Supportive Infrastructure

Pool, Snoezelen room, activity areas

Address: 32 Chakmi, Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem

Phone: 072-264-0595

Principal: Rabbi Nachman Kliger

Registration Department:

Phone: 02-640-5025/ 053-312-3184

Fax: 02-640-1525

Email: [email protected]

For a number of years, Seeach Sod has invited students of yeshivot and seminaries, as well as visitors from other groups, to learn about our mission by visiting our main building, hearing about our programs, and interacting with the individuals we serve. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the necessary health precautions, these visits are not possible this year, but we have decided to bring the Seeach Sod experience directly to the students in the yeshivot and seminaries, either by Zoom or with a personal appearance by a representative from Seeach Sod. After an informative video, the climax is an interactive program in which the students prepare a card and treats for Seeach Sod students.

For a number of years, students at numerous seminaries have volunteered at Seeach Sod. Although the coronavirus and the mandated health guidelines have made this more difficult this year, we have come up with creative ways for students to continue to contribute. The students at one seminary have been making pillows for the residents in our Supported Housing program. Some students have run weekly Zoom programs for the women in the residences.

The Shoham Day-Hab Center provides services for individuals with moderate-complex intellectual disabilities and autism. Sensory-motor stimulation is critical for these individuals, and we use a wide range of therapies to provide for their needs.

Seeach Sod has partnered with the Israeli ambassador to Macedonia in commemorating the Jewish community in Macedonia that was completely destroyed in the Holocaust.

In preparation for the upcoming winter, the women who live in the Ohr. Street apartment bought new clothing! Have a healthy winter!

Seeach Sod is presently beginning an exciting partnership with the Tzfat municipality, and Rabbi Nachman Gelbach, a member of the City Council, recently came to tour Seeach Sod’s programs. The tour began on the Ramot campus, where Rabbi Gelbach was introduced to the rehabilitative daycare center, early childhood, and elementary school programs. Rabbi Gelbach expressed his appreciation of the professionalism in all of the programs there. The tour continued in Yeshivat Otzar HaTorah, where Rabbi Gelbach was able to see firsthand how much the students accomplish in their Torah studies and vocational and life-skills training.

Mothers of students at Yeshivat Otzar HaTorah were recently invited to hear from school staff regarding the roles of different staff members in the yeshiva.