General Brochure 2019

Inspiring
Hope.
Changing
Lives.

We’re on a mission
to provide quality care for people
with disabilities, empower their
families, and promote social inclusion.
Because we believe every
person with disabilities deserves
the opportunity to maximize his/
her potential.
We develop programs, pioneer therapy and wellness solutions, and
create global communities around the common goal of inspiring hope
and changing the lives of people with disabilities and their families.
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Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.
Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.

Hope
Every
Day
Shalva provides a holistic continuum of services for
thousands of people with disabilities from infancy through
adulthood.
Shalva’s comprehensive, life-cycle programs include leading-edge therapies, inclusive educational
frameworks, social and recreational activities, employment training, and independent living.
Support and respite programs enable families to raise their children with disabilities within the
family framework. A thread of inclusion runs through all of Shalva’s programs, empowering people
with disabilities to become contributing members of society. Shalva gives equal access and
opportunity to all participants regardless of religion, ethnic background, or financial capability.
Standards of Management and Partnerships
Shalva’s award-winning programs are authorized by Israeli government ministries and are
certified to provide professional care for every category of disability. Shalva partners with
government bodies, municipalities and cultural establishments to provide optimal care and unique
opportunities for its beneficiaries. Shalva’s excellence in operations, program development,
financial accountability and transparency receive esteemed recognition. In 2018 Shalva was
awarded consultative status to the United Nations.
Charity Navigator
4 Star Rating
GuideStar
Platinum
Iternational
Organization of
Standardization
(ISO)
Midot Seal of
Effectiveness
United Nations
Consultative Status
משרד החינוך
מינהל חברה ונוער
TOTO
Winner
National Lottery
of Israel
Jerusalem
Municipality
National Insurance
Institute
Shalem Fund
Ministry of Labor,
Social Affairs and
Social Services
Ministry of
Education
Ministry of Health
IDF Home Front
Command
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Programs for Children & Families
Ages 6–21
Ages 6–21
All ages
Ages 0-18 months
Early
Intervention
Me and My Mommy in Memory of
Maurice Lowinger
Arriving just weeks after birth, infants
with disabilities are guided to achieving
their first developmental milestones
through intensive parent-child therapy
sessions. Parents struggling with
the foreign and isolating reality of
raising a child with disabilities receive
professional guidance to cultivate
fortitude and hope as co-therapists in
their child’s rehabilitative process.
Ages 1–6
Inclusive
Education
Inclusive Day Care and Preschools
Shalva’s Inclusive Day Care and
Preschools offer an enriching
curriculum that promotes the values of
inclusion, individualism, and appreciation
of diversity. A staff of educators, social
workers, and therapists collaborate to
create a vibrant program which nurtures
physical and cognitive growth while
inspiring inclusive friendships. The
preschool prepares children with and
without disabilities for integration into
the mainstream education system by
first grade.
Overnight &
Weekend Respite
Dedicated by Susan and Leonard
Feinstein
Children between the ages of 6-21
sleep over at Shalva’s Respite Center
one night a week and two weekends
each month. They receive individualized
guidance in personal care, enjoy
fun evening activities and master
independence skills while their families
receive a rare opportunity to rejuvenate
their spirits and focus on personal
needs.
Ages 6-21
Rehabilitative
Recreation
After School Activity Center in Memory
of Sima & Rubin Wagner
The After School Activity Center is
where Shalva’s children, together
with peer volunteers from the broader
community, enjoy daily therapyoriented
activities such as sports,
drama, arts, music and swimming.
The program’s experiential learning
curriculum prepares children with
disabilities for the transition to
adulthood and the world beyond.
Summer Camp
During summer vacation, 300 children
with disabilities participate in day
camps and overnight camps at the
Shalva National Center. Shalva’s camps
uniquely demonstrate both inclusion
and reverse inclusion by enabling
children with disabilities to experience
public attractions and activities
together with peer volunteers from the
broader community.
All ages
Sports and
Wellness
On a daily basis, Shalva’s state-ofthe-art,
disability accessible sports
facilities are utilized by hundreds of
children with disabilities either as
part of Shalva’s core programs or
collaborative initiatives. They enjoy a
range of rehabilitative fitness activities
such as hydrotherapy and swimming
lessons, therapeutic workouts, as well
as inclusive basketball, soccer and
Judo.
Oral Health for
Everyone
OHEV provides a unique wellness
solution to increase the quality and
accessibility of oral health for children
with disabilities by encouraging
life-style based interventions
and preventative care. Dentistry
professionals conduct individual
intervention programs and teach the
children proper oral hygiene practices.
Educational initiatives for parents
explore pediatric oral healthcare needs
for children with disabilities.
All ages
Family Support
Shalva supports parents to raise their
children with disabilities at home within
the family framework. A staff of social
workers and disability professionals
provide personal counseling and
conduct ongoing support groups for
parents, grandparents, siblings, and
disability caregivers. Shalva empowers
parents to find hope and belonging,
create family cohesion, and lead
thriving lives.
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Independent
Living in the
Community
Shalva operates independent living
apartments in the community for men
Hope for a
Bright Future
Programs for Adults
Shalva provides a nurturing framework for adults with disabilities to live independently
and benefit from meaningful employment and leisure opportunities. Shalva’s multifaceted
adult services structure ensures that adults with varying levels of disability can expand
their potential for personal development and social inclusion.
and women with disabilities. Enveloped
by professional and social support,
the residents foster cohesive familylike
relationships and successful
integration into community life.
Shalva’s high standard apartments
and ratio of residents to caregivers
promote quality of life and a stable,
long-term independent living solution
for adults with disabilities.
Circle of Support
Circle of Support is a program designed
for adults with lower functioning
abilities who currently reside with
their parents in the community
and seek social leisure activities.
They attend weekly outings with
professional counselors and benefit
from a personally tailored, experiential
learning curriculum geared toward
advancing their independence skills.
Participants also benefit from a
host of recreational group activities
throughout the year.
Employment
Shalva serves as a model for
successful workplace inclusion.
We employ adults with disabilities in
various positions and departments
such as teaching assistants in the
inclusive preschools, musicians in
the Shalva Band and waiters at Café
Shalva. Some employees work in
Shalva’s creative workshop where
they produce tea packages, ceramics
and other marketable products. Our
employees receive ongoing guidance
to navigate an inclusive workplace
setting through support groups and
professional counseling.
Vocational
Training
Shalva’s vocational training program
prepares adults with disabilities for
inclusion in the mainstream workforce
through formal study, interactive
practicum and supervised employment.
The program is operated in partnership
with local colleges and the Ministry of
Labor, providing graduates with official
certification and the opportunity to
enter the mainstream job market with
equal qualifications to counterpart
candidates without disabilities. Some
courses include floral design and
culinary arts.
Whether an independent living resident, an employment training student, or a participant in social support activities;
beneficiaries are escorted through the various programs with personal and professional guidance to ensure their
success and satisfaction. Following three decades of program development for children, Shalva’s adult services
offer new opportunities for Shalva’s graduates and others from the community to build their futures with dignity
and quality of life.
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Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives. 9

hope for

Inclusion:
The Enormous Power of Good
Thousands of people annually participate in Shalva’s community and inclusion initiatives which take place
regularly at the Shalva National Center and around the world. Our greater Shalva family is made of people
with extra-large hearts, national dignitaries and individuals alike, who have taken on the mission of inspiring
hope and changing the lives of people with disabilities.
Team Shalva in
the Jerusalem
Marathon
Shalva’s team of over 1,000 runners
infuses the Jerusalem Marathon with
“Shalva purple” and an irresistibly
inspiring energy. Together with
hundreds of runners from abroad,
celebrity and national heroes,
volunteers, and of course Shalva’s
children and their families, Team Shalva
annually kicks off the marathon’s
“community run”.
Cultural Events
& Conferences
In addition to housing Shalva’s programs
the Shalva National Center functions
as a hub of community activity; hosting
cultural events and educational
conferences several times a week.
Shalva’s expansive, disability accessible
auditorium enables people with
disabilities to experience culture while
simultaneously exposing audiences
from the broader community to the
world of disabilities in a most positive
light.
Café Shalva
Café Shalva, located in the Shalva
National Center and open to the public,
is part of a boutique chain of culinary
establishments in the Jerusalem
area and a model of employment
inclusion. The café has been positively
reviewed for its delicious menu and
inviting atmosphere. Exemplifying true
inclusion, adults with disabilities work
side-by-side their peer counterparts
without disabilities as waiters and
sous-chef; offering a new quality of
cuisine, experience, and life.
Shalva Band
The Shalva Band is comprised of eight
talented musicians with disabilities who
are employed by Shalva and perform by
invitation with celebrity artists and at
cultural events. Inspiring crowds with
their professional musical repertoire
and charm, the band is a celebrated
model of inclusion for audiences across
the globe.
Shalva SHOP
The Shalva National Center gift shop
offers visitors a selection of artistic
and unique items for sale, such as
jewelry, homeware, toys, and Judaica;
some of which are produced by adults
with disabilities at Shalva’s creative
workshop. Purchases serve as
meaningful souvenirs and all profits
directly support Shalva.
Shalva
Ambassadors
Program
Hundreds of gap year students
volunteer at Shalva on a weekly basis,
providing backbone support to our
programs and friendship to Shalva’s
children. Their genuine care and positive
energy are invaluable components of
Shalva’s magical inclusion. They are
Shalva’s ambassadors in their home
communities
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Programs
Families from around the world make
Shalva a meaningful part of their Bar/
Bat Mitzvah celebrations. They engage
their communities in chesed projects
on behalf of Shalva’s children, dedicate
gifts to support our programs, or
celebrate with a party at the Shalva
National Center in Israel.
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Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.
Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.

A Mother’s Promise
Shalva partners with government institutions and universities
around the world in research and education projects to pioneer
wellness solutions for people with disabilities and their families.
International groups of disability professionals and academics
visit the Shalva National Center to learn about our successful
therapy methodologies and programs.
Fulfilled
Shalva is Israel’s official National Crisis Response Center
for people with disabilities; providing immediate, countrywide
relief for people with disabilities during periods of
national crisis. This unprecedented initiative includes long
and short-term shelter, therapy and support programs for
1,200 people with disabilities.
Global
Impact
Shalva was founded in 1990 by Kalman and Malki
Samuels, but its story begins thirteen years earlier when
their son, Yossi was rendered blind and deaf among other
challenges as a result of injury during his early infancy.
At the age of eight Yossi experienced a communication
breakthrough, miraculously learning sign language in the
palm of his hand. Malki remembered a promise that she
made during those isolating and exhausting years; that
if G-d would help her son she would dedicate herself to
helping other families in similar situations.
With six local children in a small apartment, the Samuels’
started the After School Activity Center which presently
remains Shalva’s mainstay program. The organization
immediately filled a gaping void in rehabilitative
opportunities for children with disabilities in Israel;
expanding to include early intervention therapies,
inclusive educational frameworks, summer camps, a
band, sports teams as well as independent living and
employment for adults. Respite and family support
components quickly became organizational staples.
With its scope of services and amount of beneficiaries
expanding from year to year; Shalva moved to larger
locations and eventually built the Shalva National Center.
Its every detail was designed with intention, from its
enveloping artistic interior to leading-edge facilities;
built with the most solid of foundations- the love and
devotion of parents.
Shalva is effectively shaping social policy and changing the
standards of disability care and inclusion on global levels,
impacting the world beyond the individuals and families in our
direct care.
Through international partnerships with medical centers,
universities and organizations, Shalva shares its knowledge
and expertise to advance disability care in countries with less
advanced social services. Shalva’s inclusion initiatives engage
millions of people across the globe who are inspired to learn
about the world of disability and experience the hope of a
better, more inclusive society.
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Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.
Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.

Magic Happens
Here
The Shalva National Center is one of
Israel’s largest centers for disability care
and inclusion. Since its inauguration in
2016, the center has opened new doors
of opportunity for people with disabilities
and their families.
Its expansive, state-of-the-art facilities
and unique programs have enhanced
the standard of disability services and
monumentally impacted the lives of
people with disabilities in Israel and around
the world.

The Shalva
National Park
for Inclusion
in memory of
Ambassador
Roland E. Arnall
Located at the entrance of the Shalva
National Center campus, the National
Park for Inclusion includes three areas
of disability accessible playground
installations that are suitable for various
levels of challenge. Open to the broader
public, the park is visited by hundreds of
children every day and creates a unique
haven of inclusion and acceptance.
The Steven
Diamond Sports
and Wellness
Center
The Sports Center is a hub of
community-wide, inclusive fitness
activities for Shalva’s children and
other individuals with disabilities.
Shalva houses some of Israel’s
largest and most advanced disability
accessible sports facilities; including
an expansive multi-purpose
gymnasium, swimming pools that
are specially designed for therapy
purposes, completely accessible locker
rooms, therapy rooms, and a fitness
center with disability accessible
equipment.
The Recanati-
Kaplan
Auditorium
Shalva’s spacious auditorium
hosts educational conferences for
disability professionals and leading
organizations as well as cultural
events several times a week. The
auditorium has the highest density of
wheelchair accessible seating in Israel
and is designed to accommodate
inclusive casts and audiences, with
disability accessible stage features
and podiums. The home stage of the
Shalva Band, Shalva’s auditorium
exposes thousands of people from
the broader community to the
celebrated talents of people with
disabilities.
The Leon and
Leesa Wagner
Family Atrium
The main entrance to the Shalva
National Center welcomes thousands
of program participants, visitors
and guests with a warm and inviting
energy. An open, three story atrium
envelopes all who enter with an
overhead artistic mobile of colorful
butterflies turning gently in the
breeze. The installation is the largest
creation of renowned artist David
Gerstein and symbolizes Shalva’s
mission to give our children the tools
they need to fly to the best of their
ability and reach unimaginable heights.
The Susan
and Leonard
Feinstein
Respite Floor
The respite floor is comprised of
five connected pavilions, each with
apartment-style living quarters
that include spacious bedrooms for
children and staff, a common area,
a private bathroom and a balcony.
The intimate pavilions create a
comfortable, home-like environment
which is familiar and friendly. The
floor also has a self-care salon and
an independent living apartment
where older participants can practice
home economics in a realistic yet
supervised environment.
The Manette
and Louis
Mayberg Café
Shalva
Café Shalva is a boutique
restaurant that is also an inclusive
equal-opportunity workplace,
simultaneously offering a high-end,
delicious culinary experience as well
as the opportunity to participate
in a meaningful inclusion initiative.
The café is operated in partnership
with the management of leading
culinary establishments and has
been reviewed with esteemed
acclaim and popularity, bringing tens
of thousands of people from the
broader community into Shalva.
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Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.
Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.

This is what happens when
you bring together
Parents who are dedicated to
giving their children the best
lives and futures
Children who are supported
to achieve their dreams
Professionals who see abilities and create
possibilities
A society that cares
for its citizens
Communities that
believe in opening
new doors for
opportunity
Friends who know that everyone
can make a difference
There is HOPE
20 Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives. Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.
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Arrive curious.
Leave inspired.
Reuven Rivlin
President of Israel
“Every time I meet members of Shalva’s
staff, volunteers, and the extended
Shalva family, I come to understand
what is love, what is endless dedication,
what is giving. And for this I thank you.”
Shimon Peres OBM
Former President of Israel
“All those who criticize Israel should
come to Shalva and witness the other
side of Israel. The most noble, loving and
caring Israel. I am proud to be part of
this Israel.”
Shalva continues to grow thanks
to the generosity and support
of dear friends in Israel and
around the world.
Together we are inspiring hope,
changing lives, and creating
a better, more inclusive world.
Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
“We salute what Shalva is doing in Israel
which I think is a beacon to the entire
world, what Shalva recognizes is that
each human being has a soul.”
Colonel Golan Wach
Home Front Command of the Israel
Defense Forces
“Shalva established an amazing center
which I would call no less than a “Noah’s
Ark”, To care for the weakest people in
society who need it the most.”
Nir Barkat
Former Mayor of Jerusalem
"When people come to Jerusalem, they
ask me what they should see. I tell them
to visit Shalva. You don't come out the
same person; the center changes you."
Malka Margalit, PhD
Recipient of the Israel Prize in the
field of Education Research
“Shalva spearheaded social change in the
caring and development of a child with
disabilities and their families.”
Shalva / inspiring hope. Changing lives.
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ISRAEL
Shalva National Center
1 Shalva Road
POB 34449, Jerusalem 9134302
T +972-2-651-9555
F +972-2-653-5787
E info@shalva.org
USA
American Friends of Shalva
New York
315 Fifth Avenue, 6Th Fl.
New York, NY 10016
T +1-212-725-0900
F +1-212-725-5624
E leo@shalva-usa.org
Florida
78 S.W. 7th Street, Suite 500
Miami, FL 33130
O +1-786-814-5368
M +1-954-536-8481
E lauren@shalva-usa.org
UK
British Friends of Shalva
Suit D, Kiln House
15-17 High Street
Elstree, Herts, WD6 3BY
T +44-203-866-5741
E uk@shalva.org
CANADA
Canadian Friends of Shalva
201 Bridgeland Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M6A 1Y7
T +1-647-884-3636
F +1-416-256-4003
E canadianfriends@shalva.org
MEXICO
Mexican Friends of Shalva
Hacienda del Ciervo #27 - 504
Hacienda de las Palmas
Huixquilucan Edo de Mexico
CP 52787, Mexico City
T +52-55-52163542
E stevanjennifer@gmail.com
www.shalva.org
The Israel Association for Care and
Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities