According to recent studies, 11% of children in Israel suffer from some kind of disability.
The most common disability is a learning disability or attention deficit disorder.
Other common disabilities are mental or emotional disability, speech or language difficulty, developmental delay, behavioral disorders and autism.
The victory celebrations of Ido, a child with special needs (archive)
In today's diverse society it is essential to foster inclusion and support for children with special needs.
In order to reach their potential, additional attention and resources are required.
These children and their families face many daily challenges, and it is of utmost importance to create an inclusive environment that promotes their well-being and overall development.
Understanding special needs
The first step towards supporting children with special needs is to understand the range of conditions they may face, such as autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
Researching the characteristics of these situations and their impact on children's lives can help create empathy and awareness among communities.
One must understand the variety of situations they may face (illustration), photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Promoting inclusion in education
Inclusive education has a central role in fostering a supportive environment for children with special needs.
This involves adapting teaching methods, curricula and appropriate classroom environments to accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities.
The benefits of inclusive education should be carefully examined and successful strategies should be sought to be implemented in schools.
In addition to this, there is a need to increase the schools in light of the growing number of students every year.
Providing holistic support
Children with special needs need comprehensive support systems that meet their physical, emotional and social needs.
Here the importance of multidisciplinary approaches that combine treatments, a variety of assistive technologies and individualized education programs (IEP) must be explored.
The emphasis here is on the significance of cooperation between parents, educators and health professionals in providing holistic support.
Children with special needs, photo: Efrat Eshel (archive)
Cultivating emotional well-being
Children with special needs often face emotional challenges due to social stigmas and limited opportunities for social interaction.
Cultivating emotional well-being, through fostering positive self-esteem, encouraging social connections and implementing anti-bullying policies, is of critical importance.
This field also emphasizes the role of counseling and support networks in the treatment of mental health problems.
Empowering families and communities
The support for children with special needs extends beyond the educational institutions.
This means that care must also be taken to empower families and communities by providing resources to networks and information about available support services.
In addition, the importance of reducing isolation and promoting acceptance must be raised through community involvement and awareness campaigns.
Adapting teaching methods, curricula and appropriate classroom environments to accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities, Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Advocacy and policy reform
Advocacy is vital and critical in driving real systemic change to create a more inclusive society for children with special needs.
The significance of supporting policy reforms that guarantee equal rights, access to health services, education and employment opportunities must be examined.
According to the special education law, a student with special needs is a person aged 3-21 who has (one or more) disabilities, ranging from a high level of functioning to a low level of functioning.
In order to promote and strengthen the children's abilities from a young age, there is a fundamental need to also establish nurseries for children with special needs who have not yet reached the age of three.
Prof. Yosef Peres, president of the "For You" organization led by Rabbi Yossi Arablich, son-in-law of the president, and former director of Schneider Hospital.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us