Hagshama Amutat Ha'gan Ha'shikumi (FS)

The Preschool Development Center helps children with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders and physical disabilities to develop their maximum potential for independence. In this special effort tailored to the needs of each child, the Center uses best practices in special education and physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as state of the art technology. The Preschool Development Center was founded in 1970 by the late Professor Naomi Amir, one of Israel’s leading pediatric neurologists, and is run jointly by highly skilled and experienced therapists and special education staff from the Israeli Ministry of Education. The Preschool is one of Israel’s finest programs, currently serving about 90 children between the ages of 3 and 7. The children come from a broad range of backgrounds, including Orthodox, traditional, and secular Jews, as well as Arab children from families in east Jerusalem and nearby villages. The comprehensive approach of the Preschool Development Center includes daily experiences in powered mobility, computers, and voice output for communication. The training and therapy the children receive at the Center carry over into all aspects of their daily lives. Guidance is given as well to all the people who are in constant contact with the children, including siblings, parents, and grandparents. The excellent, multidisciplinary staff and the intensive program work wonders with the children. The majority are able to join mainstream educational frameworks when they finish the Preschool and move to the first grade.