Nitzan Haifa

Nitzan in Haifa - is an association established in 1983 by parents and volunteers for the advancement of children, youth and adults suffering from learning, adjustment and functioning disabilities. (SLD) The word Nitzan in Hebrew means bud. That's what these peoples are to us. They're like tiny buds that when properly nurtured flower.

Learning disabilities - Most definitions describe special learning disabilities as an umbrella term that encompasses a wide variety of disorders, including disorders in one or more of the basic learning and psychological processes. Learning can become a nightmare when there are memory problems, difficulties in following directions, trouble with the visual or auditory perception of information, and an inability to perform paper-and-pencil tasks. For a long period of time it was thought that learning disabilities were children's issue. That once the child finished schools the problem would disappear. Recently research's has shown that learning disabilities do not disappear when one leaves school and that they can occur across an individual's lifetime. These difficulties vary in severity may affect one or more areas of a person's life, including learning, work, social and emotional functioning or performing ordinary daily chores. Moreover, learning disabilities do not manifest themselves in individuals in exactly the same way. Some learning disabilities can be mild, while others can be quite severe.

Our Goals - diagnosing, treating and accompanying the SLD population and their families.

Our Services -

· Diagnostic Testing Center - our center offers a valuable tool for determining a person's specific problem areas. Based on the test results, a recommended treatment program is designed
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· Therapeutic-Social Center - For the last 19 years we are operating the social/therapeutic center for people in the ages of 21 (and above) that, due to their disabilities cannot integrate in the conventional community frames. Within the frame of the center, pupils receive wide support from their peers, instructors and therapists in the various fields. Here the member can freely express his emotions, without fear of criticism. It is the place where the members are allowed to grow and acquire skills and independence. It is the place where they celebrate their birthdays, religious holidays and other significant personal and social occasions. Together they take field trips, vacations and other activities initiated by the club staff
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· Occupational / Emotional Therapy Center - for children in the ages of 3 - 9 that, due to their physical or emotional disabilities need physiotherapy or emotionally treatments.
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Community Rehabilitation Housing - According to Dejong, (1982) The Independent Living (IL) Movement is the clearest statement available about how disabled persons want to be viewed in the society - not as passive victims needing constant professional intervention, but as self-directed individuals seeking to remove environmental barriers that prevent their full participation in community life. This is essential when considering the needs of disabled people with regards to their quality of life and lifestyle. As workers we can't guarantee happiness for those with whom we work, or good health, or agreeable company, or that their families will continue to visit. But we can guarantee the right to meaningful activity, the right to as much independence as possible, and the right to participate in making choices that will affect an individual's life. The important thing is to consider the needs of disabled people with regard to quality of life and lifestyle. This is what we attempt to do in our Community Housing Rehabilitation Project.

Target population: SLD Haifa residents, 32 adults aged 22 - 50

Program Description: The program is based on rehabilitation in stages. In the first stage we absorb the individual in an initial apartment where he/she receives intensive guidance in basic daily living skills, in filling their leisure time, living within the community, practicing and learning social skills and personal and interpersonal skills. Following this stage, accompanies by our professional staff member, he/she moves into his/her permanent apartment, either alone or with another person who has already passed the initial absorption stage and is able to function more or less independently

Program Partners Ministry of Labor and Welfare, Municipality of Haifa -Welfare Services Division.

Contact us: Tel: 04- 8372488 , 04-8107775 Fax : 04-8372488

Adress: NITZAN HAIFA
            PO BOX 6300
            Haifa
            Zip code: 31062
            Email: nitzan98@actcom.co.il