Contact Us
Rachel Rosenman
Director of Resources
rachelr@alut.org.il
For volunteers:
veredn@alut.org.il
Alut-The Israel National Autism Association
1 Corazin St.
Givataim 53583 Israel
Tel: 972-3-5718188 #204
Mobile: 972-52-3863421
Fax: 972-3-5718185
PROJECTs
| ALUT offers a variety of programs designed to help children with autistism and their families. |
Alutafs – Rehabilitation nursery schools (RNS)
The average Alutaf class holds 8-12 children. Each one of them follows an individual program, as well as group activities. The ration of professional staff to children is 1X1. Each Alutaf follows one of two approaches: behaviorist (ABA) or Developmental.Developmental method:
The developmental approach, focuses not only to the developing child and his/her evolving needs, but also to the family members and their needs at each stage of the child’s development. Staff members include clinical, developmental and educational psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, art and music therapists, animal therapists and educators specializing in developing behavior therapy programs
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Method:
This program is implemented by giving young autistic children at least 40 hours per week of behavioral therapy for at least two years. Teaching the children social, language, cognitive, and self-care skills, This is individualizing treatment based upon a child’s particular strengths and needs and breaking skills down into smaller components typically using tangible rewards. Applied behavioral analysis is nearly always implemented 1:1.
Annual operation cost of an Alutaf is $135,000
Construction cost of Alutaf for 14-16 children is $250,000
Therapeutic equipment for 14-16 children’s class is $25,000
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RESIDENTIAL LIVING: "HOMES FOR LIFE"
To date, ALUT has built and is operating 17 Homes for Life throughout Israel.
A "Home for Life" is a facility located in a residential area that offers its residents who suffer from autism a lifestyle as similar as possible to that of a normal family life within the community.
The Home serves as a supportive, instructive and developmental environment, and life there affords autistic members the opportunity of acquiring daily functioning skills.
Activity at the Home gears members to function independently insofar as possible, and encourages each and every one of them to fulfill his/her basic needs: personal hygiene, tidying up the house, working in the kitchen, etc.
An individual program is adapted to each resident, according to his or her age, needs, aptitudes in various art fields (drawing, music, etc.), and occupational therapy requirements.
Residence in a Home for Life is organized in groups, similar in size to families, so each resident receives individual care. The residents’ welfare and dignity is given top priority.
Alut is now looking for donations towards the building of a new Home for Life in Haifa. 24 autistic young adults are in urgent need of a home. We have the location (on Mount Carmel) and building plans, but $3,000,000 is needed to build.
Alut is looking for donations towards the building of new Home for Life in Kfar Saba. The expected cost is $2,500,000.
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OCCUPATIONAL CENTERS: "TOWARDS INDEPENDENT LIVING"
ALUT's guiding principle is that normalized, community-based working and living arrangements are the optimal environment for people with autism. ALUT has designed unique models that emphasize members' abilities, and not their disabilities. The Vocational Centers provide work and habilitation programs for their members age 21 and above. At present there are nine such Centers between Carmiel in the north and Be’er Sheva in the south.After assessing the member’s abilities, needs and interests, individual training programs are developed. Professional instructors work in the workshops.
More Vocational Centers are urgently needed all over the country.
The cost of constructing and equipping one vocational center averages $700,000.
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Family Centers
The autism diagnosis of an infant – usually as early as 18 – 24 months, causes a deep crisis in the family: First – the normal dream of having a normal kid is shattered. Professional literature testify that the whole family go through four stages process: shock and mourning phase, denial phase, mixed feelings of anger, frustration, blame, anxiety and depression mixed with deep love and concern for the child phase, and at last comes the phase of acceptance.This process might create an additional crisis in the parents’ relationship, The parents, who are preoccupied with the care of the autistic child, might exchange accusations as for the difficult situation they are in, and neglect their healthy children. The siblings also experience difficult times, shame, neglect, and even depression.
The Family Centers attends to these problems and more, through the following services:
- A referral and information source for families.
- Professional library
- Hot line
- Lectures and support group for parents and other family members discussing relevant issues.
- Network “parents for parents”
- Training professional in autism treatments methods
- Supplement and support to communication kindergarten and schools, complimentary Para-medical treatments etc.
- Developing new services.
Alut operates 6 family centers:
- Tel Aviv area
- Jerusalem
- Haifa
- Carmiel
- Be’er Sheva
- Mobile center for the Arab Sector
Annual operating costs: $80,000
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ALUTEVA - The guesthouse for autistic children in Carmiel
Aluteva - The guesthouse for autistic children provides treatment, supervision, and activities specially designed and adjusted for each child’s special needs. This unique place presents the families with the rare opportunity during weekends and holidays, to rest and regain their strength while knowing that their children are in capable and professional hands, in a place specifically designed for them. Thereby the parents can divert their attention to caring for their other children.
Project Description:
A family arriving at the guesthouse is assigned a (double) room with a shower, bathroom and kitchenette.
The autistic child is directed towards a separate adjacent activity room where professional counselors care for him. Also available to the children is a therapy room, equipped especially to create a relaxing and restful environment.
The ALUTEVA guesthouse is the first of its kind operating on weekends from Thursday (after school) until Sunday morning (the beginning of the Israeli week), on holidays, and school vacations. These coincide with the days that the parents have to deal alone with filling up all of the leisure time and activities of the child.
The children receive total care including meals, bathing, sleeping facilities, and personal care. During the leisure time there are activities such as trips, stories, creativity programs, sport activities, and more.
There are many families who cannot afford the cost of this vacation, Please help them benefit from this much needed recharge opportunity:
Average cost per weekend per child (family) - $250
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Summer camps and Holiday camps
Daily care of autistic children is very demanding for the parents and siblings, both emotionally and physically. Children with autism or PDD need intensive 24/7 supervision. Our children and their families desperately need occasional change of atmosphere and vacation in order to recharge. Alas, they do not fit to use regular hotels, resorts etc. Neither children nor parents can enjoy such a vacation. On the one hand, our children cannot be in regular hotel or resorts because in these places there are too many facilities that can be dangerous to them. On the other hand, these places do not employ the professional supervision required. Private professional caregivers are difficult to find and too costly. So, the parents have to supervise the children themselves, and thus cannot rest.
The Solution:
Alut has come up with the idea to run summer camps and Holiday camps for our families that will address the families’ needs and take advantage of Alut’s professional experience.
The summer camp operates on two levels:
- It provides the children with autism a professional individual supervision and a variety of specially designed educational and recreational activities.
- It provides the parents with the peace of mind, knowing their children are in good hands, and thus they can relax and enjoy few days of leisure.
Cost of Summer/Holiday Camp - $270 per child
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