Page 8 - Annual Report

8
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.