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THE OFARIM UNIT FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
FRIENDS OF THE BNAI ZION MEDICAL CENTER, HANNAH KHOUSHI CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
43 Golumb St. POB 4940 Haifa, 31048 Israel; Tel. 04-8371973 Tel. / Fax. 04-8371693
24 Golumb St., Haifa 33393 ;Tel. 04-8370062, 8379074 ;Fax. 04-8371393
What is the Ofarim Unit?
The only center in the north of Israel which provides rehabilitative developmental- educational treatment programs for blind and visually impaired infants, preschool children and their families.
How is it Unique?
Vision integrates all components of behavior and learning and without it the child needs an intensive early intervention program. An individual treatment program is designed for each child and family based on the child's visual and developmental needs.
The Treatment Program
* Specially coordinated for the individual needs and developmental pace of each child and family.
* Use of a holistic approach based on stimulation and learning through hands-on experience.
* Encourages use of residual vision through meaningful experiences, reinforcement of other senses, improving perception, attention, learning skills, social skills, communication and language skills, mobility and motor skills.
* Takes place in a warm, supportive, and encouraging environment where the child's interest and abilities determine the focus of the professional's intervention.
* Gives meaning to situations and events in the child's daily life.
Who Are the Children?
Jewish and Arab children from 0-7 years of age from Haifa, and the entire north of Israel from Hadara to Metulla.
What Does the Intervention Program Include?
* Assessment: neuro-medical, developmental-educational and psycho-social.
* Individual and / or small-group developmental therapy including parental counseling.
* Counseling and training service for other professionals.
* Protection of the child's rights, as in referral to the National Insurance Institute, assistance in transportation needs, integration into educational preschool settings and referral to parent organizations.
* Enrichment programs and life-experiences outside the Ofarim setting.
Special Projects and Intervention Models
A two year pilot study using Prof. Reuven Feuerstein's Instrumental Learning was adapted for blind preschoolers by Dr. Roman Gouzman. This was a cooperative effort based on Ofarim's knowledge of learning and development of blind children and their work in abstract thinking and tactile graphics. The goal was to help the child understand the logic behind tactile picture symbols.