A head start for children with special needs. Detecting & treating learning disabilities as early as possible is essential to the health & wellbeing of children later on in life. In remote rural Jewish communities like Ma’ale Yosef, in northern Israel, specialist facilities are few & far-between
Categories
Due to very limited resources, the Centre is only open twice a week. It offers a range of diagnostic support. Every year, it provides ongoing support to 40 children of ages 3-6, all of whom attend kindergartens in the local communities. Children with special needs are referred to the Centre if they have been identified as having emotional, behavioural, speech problems or difficulties. The Meshi Centre is seeking additional support to maintain & expand this much needed service.
Children referred to the Meshi Centre receive personal care and attention. Key to the success of the treatment is cooperation of parents and kindergarten teachers, who receive counselling from staff at the centre. Therapies include emotional, development and behavioural modification, as well as linguistic, speech and communication development. The staff at the centre includes: a speech therapist, occupational therapist, psychotherapist, cognitive training and an educational therapist.