Annual Report

SOCIAL CHANGE AND ADVOCACY IN THE COMMUNITY

Beit Issie Shapiro drives social change in order to provide more rights and resources for children with disabilities and their families. We raise public awareness, engage in legislative advocacy, and promote community involvement and education so that we can build a more just, responsible and inclusive society. Park Chaverim:

Spreading our Model of Inclusion Our Park Chaverim has led to a total of 48 parks currently in motion. As of 2012: 4 inclusive and accessible parks have been built • and are operating based on Beit Issie Shapiro’s model (2 with our educational programming) 11 municipalities are receiving our guidance • 33 municipalities have initiated the building • process Creating a Movement for Self Advocacy For the first time, adults with intellectual disabilities are developing skills to make meaningful decisions about their own lives through our self-advocacy initiative. Special thanks to the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles who awarded a generous grant to this emerging joint effort with fellow disabilities organization Israel Elwyn.

Pioneering Inclusion Through Volunteerism

Hundreds of volunteers contribute to us through their time, and become emissaries of our mission. We pioneered the inclusion of volunteers with disabilities, thanks to the Sobell Foundation. More organizations throughout Israel are turning to us to duplicate our model.

Youth Leadership: A Model for Youth-at-Risk

Youth-at-risk experience the power of giving for the first time through our youth leadership program, in partnership with the Education Ministry. To promote inclusion amongst teenage youth who are easily influenced by stereotypes, we engaged new teen leadership groups to learn about disabilities, volunteer with children with disabilities, and share the message of inclusion in their communities.

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