BEINEINU NEWS & NOTES
April 11, 2013
INTERNATIONAL
What Are Your Favorite Family Vacation spots? With summer vacation coming up, we would like to put together a listing of family-friendly day trips which are wheelchair accessible and/or sensory friendly.
Wherever you live, please let us know about YOUR favorite places—like accessible hiking trails, amusement parks, museums, or any other place that your family really enjoyed. We would like to know where it is and why you particularly enjoyed it. Your recommendation will help many other families enjoy their vacation time!
Please send information to
USA
Website Rates Accessibility—AbleRoad is a new free website and mobile application (app) for finding and rating accessible restaurants, shops, hotels, medical practices, and many other locations. Visit www.ableroad.com.
Autism Funding—Autism Care and Treatments Today (ACT Today) has a program that provides financial assistance to people with autism spectrum disorders. To qualify, applicants must have an immediate need for treatment or services because their physical safety is in jeopardy. The income level of the applicant’s family must be below $45,000 per year. Visit www.act-today.org/SOS.
Accessible Vehicle Contest—NMEDA is sponsoring the National Awareness Month online contest through May 10, 2013. Three “Local Heroes” around the USA will be awarded customized wheelchair accessible vehicles. To submit your story, go to www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com.
Fellowship Program—Laszlo Strategies has announced an eight week fellowship program in Washington DC for three outstanding future leaders who will focus on disability rights, inclusion, and the promotion of medical science. Applicants must have completed at lease their sophomore year of college. They will be awarded$500 at the completion of their fellowship. Contact
Ohio Student Scholarship—Tree Of Knowledge in Cleveland has been approved as a provider for the Jon Petership Special Needs Scholarship. This scholarship fund allows a child to receive special education in a place other than their school district of residence. For more information contact Daphne Soclof at 216-541-2048 ext 256.
ISRAEL
Mother’s Group—Kesher and Beyachad are sponsoring a relaxing conversation and embroidery group for mothers of children with Down Syndrome. 8 sessions on Mondays, at 8:30 PM, starting on Monday April 22, 2013. At the BEYACHAD center on 39 Shaul HaMelech Street, Jerusalem. Cost: 40 nis per session + 30 nis one-time fee for materials (430 nis total). First meeting with no obligation. To register: BEYACHAD, tel: 02-5829983 (Yael). For more information: Yara – 0544-966450,
Dogs and Special Needs—A series of 10 weekly workshops for families of specialneeds children ages 6-12 who own a dog. We will learn:
- To teach the child so that you and your child will have fun living with it, and it will not be an additional difficulty at home.
- To empower the child with special needs and his/her siblings, by teaching the dog to perform various instructions and by learning to take responsibility for taking care of someone else.
- To enjoy man's best friend – to pet, hug and play.
Meetings are on Sundays between 5-6 PM, starting on April 21, 2013 at Gan Saker (main entrance, across from Betzalel Street).
Initial introductory session with no obligation on April 14, 2013, at 5:00 PM at the KESHER Jersualem branch, 4 Yad Harutzim Street, Talpiot – without the dogs. Cost: 30 nis per session (Total 300 nis for the entire season).To register: KESHER Jerusalem 02-6236116 –
Driving Lessons for ADD/ADHD—The Smart Drive method is adapted to the needs of the individual student. It uses various strategies including a simulator to train for the written and driving tests. Contact 03-600-6054.
Vaadot Hasamah--It's "that" time of the year in Israel – vaadot hasama (placement committees)!! Read common questions and answers (in Hebrew) here:
http://horimbekesher.co.il/Article/?ID=3461
New Arnona Discounts--New regulations provide property tax reductions of 33% (instead of the 25% offered until now) to families with disabled children. The discount given up until now was only until the child turned 18 years old – it will now include also children who are past that age.
In addition, the funding received from Bituach Leumi for the child will no longer be included when calculating the parents' income, in order to check for eligibility for income-based discounts on arnona. The new regulations will also make it easier for needy families to receive discounts due to their needs, in the discounts committees of their local municipalities. There are also other changes to the calculation formula for the arnona discount.
For full information, you can contact Julia Ben Moshe of Kol Hazchuyot –
072-2239918, or through the contact form on the Kol Hazchuyot website: www.allrights.co.il