BEINEINU NEWS & NOTES
February 13, 2014
INTERNATIONAL
Zichron Yehuda Equipment Exchange—Pesach (Passover) is coming soon. Many of us have unused equipment and supplies sitting in our homes, taking up space. We can help find a good new home for those items.
We are currently updating Beineinu’s Zichron Yehuda Equipment Exchange lists for the USA, Israel, Canada, and England. If you have any equipment, supplies, or requests to add to our lists, or if you forgot to remove something from the list, please contact
Adaptive Clothing—The Adaptive Clothing Showroom, an online supplier of clothing for various special needs, has informed us that they have manufactured a line of anti-strip jumpsuits in both children’s and adult sizes which are an ideal solution for those with a tendency to undress in inappropriate times or location.These one-piece jumpsuits are suitable for those with Alzheimer's, dementia or other conditions.It is also an ideal solution for those who should not be undressing themselves due to risk of a falls by prompting them to ask for assistance. Anti Strip Jumpsuits all feature a back zipper with added snaps for security.The Extra Reinforced Jumpsuits are designed for those that tug and rip at their clothing. See http://adaptiveclothingshowroom.com/jumpsuits-anti-strip/
Adaptive Showroom is offering 15% off for Beineinu subscribers. Use coupon code UW93L3U79Y at checkout.
USA
Building Blocks Magazine—Building Blocks, the special needs magazine published by the Jewish Press, will now be published quarterly in a new format. Look for issues in March, June, September, and December.
BiY Program—BiY 75 is a bilingual English-Yiddish school program serving children aged 5-21 in Brooklyn. For more information, see attached flyer.
Testing For OPWDD Eligibility—Special Care in Brooklyn is offering clinical testing and evaluations to determine your child’s eligibility for OPWDD services. For more information see attached flyer.
Meltdown Management—Friendship Circle has published a new e-book entitled “A Crash Course In Meltdown Management”. It is available online at www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/ebooks/meltdown-management/?utm_source
ISRAEL
Social Skills Group—A new Hebrew speaking charedi group is being formed in Jerusalem for older boys with social difficulties such as NVLD and Asperger’s. The group will be led by Mr. Uri Cohen (a national guide for complex disabilities from the Ministry of Education). Contact 02-500-2111 ext 8.
Bituach Leumit Increase--The Knesset has approved the new Bituach Leumit law in which 16000 people with nachut due to mental illness or mental retardation, who are approved for 40% or more nachut by the Bituach Lemi, will be eligible for an additional monthly stipend of 247 nis. This will not apply to people who suffer from difficulties such as anxiety, eating disorders, as well as for people over the age of 67.
Amendment To Family Care Absence Law-- This amendment is regarding the parent of a person with disabilities, and allows, according to the conditions set within it, the benefits to the parents. The definition of "a person with disability/ies" was established under the Law of Equality for Persons With Disabilities, and it is: "a person with physical, mental or cognitive impairment due to which he is substantially limited in his functioning in one or more areas of the main areas of life."
Click here for additional questions and answers
Law Amendment is as follows (free translation):
According to this amendment, benefits will be given to parents of a child with disability/ies, who is employed by the same employer or at least one year. The benefits are:
1. A parent of a child with a disability may credit to himself, on account of sick leave/vacation days – 18 days per year for the purpose of treatment/personal assistance to his child with special needs (compared to the 15 which have been approved so far).
2. The employer will pay for th sick leave as of the first day of the leave (parens of children who are not disabled are not entitled to this payment from the first day)
3. Calculation of absence days will be done also by partial-days and not only by full workdays – i.e. absence will be calculated by the hour. Thus, the employee can accompany his child to a short examination and then return to work, without having to take a full absence day for this purpose.
4. A parent will be entitled to miss work up to 52 hours per year in order to provide personal assistance to his child – and without deduction of these hours from his pay.
Please note: this benefit can be used by one person, for the treatment of the same one child.
* This benefit is for each year separately and may not be accumulated from year to year.
* Foster families are also eligible for this benefit
Exception to this amendment: These benefits will be given to one whose child is limited in his functioning for 60 days or more (i.e., not due to an event of acute childhood disease, fracture, etc.)