Mission with a Vision

Working in the dark room for visual stimulation

This year is a very special one for ELIYA - the Israel Association for Blind and Visually Impaired Children. It's the 40^th anniversary of the non-profit association, which was established in 1982 by a group of parents who were desperate to find suitable daycare facilities for their visually impaired children.

They knew that their children needed more than just normal day care; they needed to learn a way to adjust to life in order to achieve their full potential. To help achieve this, they started a small day care center in an apartment in Kiryat Ono.

Over the years, ELIYA has grown and today,160 children, most from the ages of six months to six years, are cared for in five places throughout Israel - Petah Tikvah, Jerusalem, Beersheva, Rehovot and Kfar Maccabi.

ELIYA raises about 20% of its current budget from foundations and donors in Israel and abroad. The majority of the rest of the budget is received from government ministries, according to the law on rehabilitation services. 

A baby in the dark room following a pattern of lights

Vision impairment in children can be seen at a very young age. Sometimes, it's evident from birth, in the case of disease or in some babies born prematurely. Other times, parents see that child doesn't react to them or make eye contact at two or three months, or doesn't smile when he should. There is a lack of connection.

During this crucial period, professional diagnosis, early intervention and the provision of therapeutic tools are extremely important.

Programs at ELIYA centers are individually based. It's not just a question of one kind of treatment, because visual impairments vary greatly. Some children are completely blind. Others have additional developmental challenges.

"Each child receives an assessment at the beginning of the year, and we provide a personal treatment program for each child. Most teachers have special education training, but we also train them internally in visual therapy."

The programs aim at helping the children feel confident so they can become more independent. There are many tools to help. One aid, for example, is a dark room: a room that allows an environment free of external stimuli, such as light, color, movement and noise. The goal of working in a dark room is to improve the child's visual function by raising awareness of the sense of sight, working on basic vision skills and strengthening existing vision skills. Other programs include a Snoozelen, a room for multi-sensory stimulation; music; art and many others.

In addition to working with the children, "It's really important to provide support for families. It can be very difficult for parents," she says, "and that's why we don't only treat the child, but also the family. When parents learns that the baby has a disability, they can become overwhelmed. Often they don't know how to deal with it or who to ask. When they come to ELIYA, they find emotional support as well as knowledge. They are freer to continue working and being with their other children.

"For parents, this is an amazing place, because we look at the child, not the disability. I've often heard parents say, 'You saved my life.'"

And after the child finishes the program?

"We aspire to have them attend a regular kindergarten or school, with an attendant, if necessary. Some children, who have other disabilities as well, go on to special education classes."