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PROMOTING SELF-WORTH IN THE ULTRA-ORTHODOX WORLD
A dramatic increase in the demand for Beit Issie Shapiro's Inclusive University courses - for adults
with learning disabilities - continues to be seen across Israel's ultra-orthodox Jewish communities.
Stigmas against people with disabilities and the often accompanying family embarrassment are
prevalent in this sector. Marriage and raising a family are often off the table for discussion. Our
students have grown up believing that they are incapable of contributing to the larger community.
Tailored to their specific cultural context, among others, the "The Art of Living" and "Coupling,
Relationship and Partnership" courses are a crucial step towards developing essential skills and self-
confidence to help them prove their worth and fulfill their capabilities. Thanks to the Maurice and
Vivienne Wohl Philanthropic Foundation, our presence in this community has also led to a growing
awareness among ultra-orthodox educators and professionals regarding learning disabilities.
BREAKING STIGMA THROUGH RESEARCH
As part of collaborative international research on stigma, Beit Issie Shapiro's Research and Evaluation
Unit conducted a study on how people with intellectual disabilities experience stigma. Findings
show that their response to being stigmatized is frustration and avoidance: “When someone tells
you that you are limited, it hurts”; 'They laughed at me, said I was retarded, that I have no brain. I
did not react”; “If we respond, they will attack us”. However, long-term participants in self-advocacy
programs are more likely to actively respond: Whilst they recognize their difference, self-advocates
will not accept prejudice against them. Slated to be published in 2016, the study demonstrates the
importance of self-representation in the spirit of “nothing about us without us”.
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
FOR PEOPLE WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME
In partnership with the Ministry of Welfare, National Insurance and Beit Eckstein, Beit Issie Shapiro
established a unique ‘Information Management’ professional training course for people with Asperger
Syndrome, which ran through 2015 and will continue into 2016, including assisted job placements at
its conclusion. The training tackles the high rate of unemployment in this target group. It also delivers
essential tools for personal empowerment, theoretical and practical preparation for integration into
the workplace, including simulated interviews with prospective employers, and emotional support.
The resulting job placements as information experts are ideal for people with Asperger's as they can
excel in this challenging position that requires a defined skill and involves limited verbal interaction.
Annual Report
| Pages 8-9