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.