The first report, in the form of a long letter, was submitted to the leadership of AKIM in Israel. A great deal of potential there, with many challenges to overcome, including government policy. The process was intense, but I think the report shows that it was necessary.
On another front, booked my tickets to Katmandu yesterday. Turns out the fastest way to get there is to fly out of DC to Doha, and then on the Katmandu. Called the State Department to find out about transit needs and called the Embasy of Qatar as well. Both assure me that it is not a problem having been in Israel recently.
Off to prepare for Bogata. A lot to read and thanks to Google translate, I do not yet need a Spanish English dictionary.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Friday in Jerusalem
Today started with a long walk on the beach, and then we were off to the city of Rehovot (Where the Weitzman Institute of Science is Located) to meet with Jay Ruderman, the President of the Ruderman Family Foundation at his home. Besides the beautiful home and warm hospitality (he brings Dunkin Donuts Coffee to Israel form Boston, what could be better?) Jay and his family foundation are focused like a laser beam on the inclusion of people with disabilities into society. We have a long discussion about the challenges and opportunities here in Israel, and in the US.
We then took a cab to Jerusalem, and walked through the souk to the Wailing Wall. I left prayers for my friend and who has a different cancer than he had previously. I said a prayer for my friend Jackie Dempsey who is at the end of a long road with Pancreatic Cancer. It was a moving place. I was surprised at how spiritual it felt. After a nice lunch at a modern kosher restaurant overlooking the old city, a long walk got us to a jitney cab to the Tel Aviv bus station. That too was quite the experience. I have never seen anyone work the gears of a vehicle so hard! A quick cab ride back to the hotel and a short nap for me, then off to dinner at a wonderful cafe about a mile from here with Diane's daughter's mother-in-law, who is here visiting her mother, something she does once a month from Toronto, and celebrating her mother's 100th birthday.
All and all a very good day. Will walk in the AM then pack and hand out in Tel Aviv until late afternoon, then off to the airport for a 11:55 PM flight to Philadelphia. I look forward to getting home and seeing Rachel and sleeping in my own bed. Will write a more detailed report of this trip next week.
That's all for now.
We then took a cab to Jerusalem, and walked through the souk to the Wailing Wall. I left prayers for my friend and who has a different cancer than he had previously. I said a prayer for my friend Jackie Dempsey who is at the end of a long road with Pancreatic Cancer. It was a moving place. I was surprised at how spiritual it felt. After a nice lunch at a modern kosher restaurant overlooking the old city, a long walk got us to a jitney cab to the Tel Aviv bus station. That too was quite the experience. I have never seen anyone work the gears of a vehicle so hard! A quick cab ride back to the hotel and a short nap for me, then off to dinner at a wonderful cafe about a mile from here with Diane's daughter's mother-in-law, who is here visiting her mother, something she does once a month from Toronto, and celebrating her mother's 100th birthday.
All and all a very good day. Will walk in the AM then pack and hand out in Tel Aviv until late afternoon, then off to the airport for a 11:55 PM flight to Philadelphia. I look forward to getting home and seeing Rachel and sleeping in my own bed. Will write a more detailed report of this trip next week.
That's all for now.
AKIM Leadership Thursday 15 September 2011
Thursday morning had us meeting with Batya Krauss, a social worker and parent of a son with disabilities, who is a friend of a friend in the US. She is pushing for advances here in Israel and is not satisfied with the categorical nature of services here. Lots of energy and fire. We need more people like her. I then got to see my friend Alisa Macht. Alisa worked for Special Olympics for years as a staff attorney and is here with he husband and kids for a few years. It was grat to catch up and she also volunteered to help us with our work here. We will definitely take her up on it.
Next we toured a site, a day program for people with significant disabilities. There are people who live at home with their families, not people who live outside the family home. It looked like so many people and programs I saw in Pennsylvania in the 1980's. Nothing special, though as always loving and caring staff.. The day ended with a frank discussion with the AKIM senior staff about what we saw, and then A lecture by yours truly about the UN Convention and where the field is go ing and the issues and decisions AKIM will need to face and decide. The new CEO of AKIM, Sigal, is coming to the UD Leadership Institute in January and promised to help move the organization forward. We got lots of questions after the presentation, some smiles, some daggers, and some people plain curious.
All in all, a productive trip. There is an enormous amount of work to do here. The government's approach to services is not in sync with the UN Convention and, at least at AKIM, much of what they do is far from what they could do. Friday promises to be interesting as well.
Next we toured a site, a day program for people with significant disabilities. There are people who live at home with their families, not people who live outside the family home. It looked like so many people and programs I saw in Pennsylvania in the 1980's. Nothing special, though as always loving and caring staff.. The day ended with a frank discussion with the AKIM senior staff about what we saw, and then A lecture by yours truly about the UN Convention and where the field is go ing and the issues and decisions AKIM will need to face and decide. The new CEO of AKIM, Sigal, is coming to the UD Leadership Institute in January and promised to help move the organization forward. We got lots of questions after the presentation, some smiles, some daggers, and some people plain curious.
All in all, a productive trip. There is an enormous amount of work to do here. The government's approach to services is not in sync with the UN Convention and, at least at AKIM, much of what they do is far from what they could do. Friday promises to be interesting as well.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Events of September 13, 2011
The day began when Danny Bar Am, who directs international fundraising for AKIM picked Diane Richler and yours truly, and off we went to Rahat, a Bedoin town created in the 1980's. About 50,000 people live there, out of about 200,000 Bedoin's in the country. We met with Rahat's Mayor Faiz Abu Cahiban, who is comitted to the improvement of his city. There is high unemployment, over 30%, and it is mostly women who are unemployed. Women traditionally can not actively seek work, and are not allowed to work outside of the city. There is also a high intermarriage rate and polygamy. When the husband takes a second wife, traditionally, the first is abandoned with her children, so a lot of poverty, domestic violence and children with genetic conditions due to intermarriage within the six tribes who occupy separate sections of the city.
We also visited a school for children with disabilities. Saw lots of kids who had some genetic condition, and a caring staff, if not a lot of learning going on. TV's in every room. And they were on. But the place was clean, had no real odor, and some educational materials present. Leaving Rahat, the contrast between that community and the nearby Israeli towns and Kibbutz was striking. One, chaotic and worn down, the other modern, green and lush and prosperous. Akim wants to help this city. Again the Army plays a role as Bedoins, along with Druids, serve in the Israeli Army. Sadly we met this incredible social worker named Ashraf. He is a Bedoin married to a Jewish woman, and they have two young children. They live in Rahat, as she is accepted there. He said they were not accepted as a couple elsewhere in Jewish areas. Sad I think.
We then visited three group homes, all in apartments, with 6-8 people. In the first one we also met with the families of the residents, and had an incredible meal which lasted for an hour, and carried us through the day. The young adults in the first flat arrived from their days work, all work at a company, together, in the town of Ashod where they live. Ashod is on the sea and is a planned community with a lot of amenities. The families are passionate about the home, which is staffed with a "mother" and people on each shift. The residents do a lot of things-mostly as a group, in the community but have the independence to go shopping and into the neighborhood in pairs. Lots of love and caring and concern for the residents. They all could be more independent, but that does not seem to be a goal. At another flat five minutes away, we met people who lived as couples, 3 couples, three bedrooms. They all met in other places, group homes, and formed couples. After a while, were allowed to move to this new place as couples. Imagine that funded by Medicaid in the U.S. NOT. Again, lots of love and caring, nice neighborhoods, with many people working in real jobs. I won't talk about the third home for older people, all of whom were younger than Diane and me!
At night there was a fund raising gala at the Museum of the University of Tel Aviv. I will post photos of all of this, and of some art by people with disabilities, when I figure out how to do that.
Off to figure out what I am going to talk about with the board and staff of AKIM tonight. Another day of contrasts and questions ended.
We also visited a school for children with disabilities. Saw lots of kids who had some genetic condition, and a caring staff, if not a lot of learning going on. TV's in every room. And they were on. But the place was clean, had no real odor, and some educational materials present. Leaving Rahat, the contrast between that community and the nearby Israeli towns and Kibbutz was striking. One, chaotic and worn down, the other modern, green and lush and prosperous. Akim wants to help this city. Again the Army plays a role as Bedoins, along with Druids, serve in the Israeli Army. Sadly we met this incredible social worker named Ashraf. He is a Bedoin married to a Jewish woman, and they have two young children. They live in Rahat, as she is accepted there. He said they were not accepted as a couple elsewhere in Jewish areas. Sad I think.
We then visited three group homes, all in apartments, with 6-8 people. In the first one we also met with the families of the residents, and had an incredible meal which lasted for an hour, and carried us through the day. The young adults in the first flat arrived from their days work, all work at a company, together, in the town of Ashod where they live. Ashod is on the sea and is a planned community with a lot of amenities. The families are passionate about the home, which is staffed with a "mother" and people on each shift. The residents do a lot of things-mostly as a group, in the community but have the independence to go shopping and into the neighborhood in pairs. Lots of love and caring and concern for the residents. They all could be more independent, but that does not seem to be a goal. At another flat five minutes away, we met people who lived as couples, 3 couples, three bedrooms. They all met in other places, group homes, and formed couples. After a while, were allowed to move to this new place as couples. Imagine that funded by Medicaid in the U.S. NOT. Again, lots of love and caring, nice neighborhoods, with many people working in real jobs. I won't talk about the third home for older people, all of whom were younger than Diane and me!
At night there was a fund raising gala at the Museum of the University of Tel Aviv. I will post photos of all of this, and of some art by people with disabilities, when I figure out how to do that.
Off to figure out what I am going to talk about with the board and staff of AKIM tonight. Another day of contrasts and questions ended.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011, Part One
A long day with many contrasts, and we got back to the hotel at midnight, way past my bedtime! So no time to fully explore and reflect on what I saw.
The day began with a visit to PROMEDICO, a company that is in the business of distributing pharmaceuticals and OTC products from other countries, in Israel. A dozen people with intellectual disabilities work there, in a sheltered workshop within a business. Eli Cohen, the general manager is one of those leaders I admire. He knows and is open to the 150 or so employees at his company, is the leader of a team, not a "boss", and seems to know each employee by name. The employee cafeteria, where we ate lunch with some of the people with disabilities and other employees, served delicious food and was like a big family dining room. All in all, impressive.
Then we went to meet some soldiers with intellectual disability. They are part of the Army, which plays a central role in the life of the country. After a special orientation for six months and then six months of additional training, all of which was formerly a "special" program, they now can be drafted like everyone else. The two soldiers we met, a young woman and a young man, are pare of what is the most prestigious unit in the Army, Army intelligence and logistics. The work they do is important and they have a great deal of autonomy and responsibility. The soldiers were proud and one said..."i want to contribute to the strength of my country." Can't beat that. A young major, well educated and enthusiastic, talked about the importance of these soldiers, and their contributions to the Army, and to the country. His discussion could have been at an inclusion conference in the US. He talked about how they were a better unit, because each person is valued for what they can contribute towards the common good, not for what they cannot do.
Then off to the Eretz Israel museum, a place focused on making itself cognitively accessible. Fascinating place, an amazing glass exhibit, my favorite things! The people with intellectual disability were part of a tour and class, and then did some art work themselves. Same old, same old.
Before dinner we stopped at a "hostel" where 25 or so people with intellectual disability live. A physically beautiful place in a very very nice neighborhood. Saw what I expected, people wandering around aimlessly, not having a key to the gate to get out without staff, and staff engaged in a lively conversation with themselves, but not engaging with the residents. Could have been a unit in a decent state or private institution. Decent meaning well staffed, clean and not directly abusive.
Finally went to dinner at the home of the AKIM board chair Ami Ayalon. An amazing man with a history as a head of the commandos in the military, the head of the Navy, the head of Shin Bet and a company president. Somewhere in there he won the highest honor for bravery as well. Saw Arie Rimmerman, a well known academic in our field as well as others. Ayalon was recruited to be the board chair, with no connection to the field, but is enthusiastic about the changes needed and the possibilities of better things for people with intellectual disability in Israel, saying that helping this group of Israelis will make the country better and stronger.
That's all for now. Until later.
The day began with a visit to PROMEDICO, a company that is in the business of distributing pharmaceuticals and OTC products from other countries, in Israel. A dozen people with intellectual disabilities work there, in a sheltered workshop within a business. Eli Cohen, the general manager is one of those leaders I admire. He knows and is open to the 150 or so employees at his company, is the leader of a team, not a "boss", and seems to know each employee by name. The employee cafeteria, where we ate lunch with some of the people with disabilities and other employees, served delicious food and was like a big family dining room. All in all, impressive.
Then we went to meet some soldiers with intellectual disability. They are part of the Army, which plays a central role in the life of the country. After a special orientation for six months and then six months of additional training, all of which was formerly a "special" program, they now can be drafted like everyone else. The two soldiers we met, a young woman and a young man, are pare of what is the most prestigious unit in the Army, Army intelligence and logistics. The work they do is important and they have a great deal of autonomy and responsibility. The soldiers were proud and one said..."i want to contribute to the strength of my country." Can't beat that. A young major, well educated and enthusiastic, talked about the importance of these soldiers, and their contributions to the Army, and to the country. His discussion could have been at an inclusion conference in the US. He talked about how they were a better unit, because each person is valued for what they can contribute towards the common good, not for what they cannot do.
Then off to the Eretz Israel museum, a place focused on making itself cognitively accessible. Fascinating place, an amazing glass exhibit, my favorite things! The people with intellectual disability were part of a tour and class, and then did some art work themselves. Same old, same old.
Before dinner we stopped at a "hostel" where 25 or so people with intellectual disability live. A physically beautiful place in a very very nice neighborhood. Saw what I expected, people wandering around aimlessly, not having a key to the gate to get out without staff, and staff engaged in a lively conversation with themselves, but not engaging with the residents. Could have been a unit in a decent state or private institution. Decent meaning well staffed, clean and not directly abusive.
Finally went to dinner at the home of the AKIM board chair Ami Ayalon. An amazing man with a history as a head of the commandos in the military, the head of the Navy, the head of Shin Bet and a company president. Somewhere in there he won the highest honor for bravery as well. Saw Arie Rimmerman, a well known academic in our field as well as others. Ayalon was recruited to be the board chair, with no connection to the field, but is enthusiastic about the changes needed and the possibilities of better things for people with intellectual disability in Israel, saying that helping this group of Israelis will make the country better and stronger.
That's all for now. Until later.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Day 2 and beginning of day 3 of sabbatical
Yesterday-Monday was spent working on a presentation and learning about disability in Israel. Multiple long walks to explore the area around my hotel-just off the beach-and adjusting to the time change. Dinner last night with Diane Richler, the past president of Inclusion International and a friend. Diane was the Executive Director of the Canadian Association on Community Living when I worked at The Arc.
A full day of seeing programs starts in an hours, and I am anxious to see the reality and how it compares with the written materials. I will finish my presentation after seeing what I can see today.
More will come later.
A full day of seeing programs starts in an hours, and I am anxious to see the reality and how it compares with the written materials. I will finish my presentation after seeing what I can see today.
More will come later.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Day One, Tel Aviv
Welcome to the first day of my sabbatical, and my first time as a blogger. I am spending this year working on a few issues, all more or less related to the U N Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/disabilities-convention.htm
I arrived in Tel Aviv late Sunday afternoon and spend the rest of the day getting some sun, and a nap! Monday morning started with a long walk, and I will soon have breakfast with Tali Kornheiser from Special Olympics Israel. This trip is sponsored by Inclusion International, and with its past president Diane Richler, we will work with AKIM, the Inclusion International member from Israel. Diane gets here this evening, and we begin site visits on Tuesday morning.
This is my first trip to Israel, and I am looking forward to experiencing the people, the culture and the contrasts.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/disabilities-convention.htm
I arrived in Tel Aviv late Sunday afternoon and spend the rest of the day getting some sun, and a nap! Monday morning started with a long walk, and I will soon have breakfast with Tali Kornheiser from Special Olympics Israel. This trip is sponsored by Inclusion International, and with its past president Diane Richler, we will work with AKIM, the Inclusion International member from Israel. Diane gets here this evening, and we begin site visits on Tuesday morning.
This is my first trip to Israel, and I am looking forward to experiencing the people, the culture and the contrasts.
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