THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, February 6, 1981 13
LOWEST Keren-Or Is Pioneer in Care of Blind, Handicapped
PRICE
IN TOWN
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Caricatures
he can be helped. Too
many multi-handicapped
and retarded children he
asserts, are abandoned.
Many of the so-called
"hopeless cases" were
shunned by their par-
ents. "They usually hide
them away. Sometimes
they regard them as a
punishment," Igra said.
Part of his work — and he
believes that here, too, Is-
rael is pioneering in creat-
ing the proper psychological
climate for parents — is
conducting an educational
campaign to have parents
bring handicapped and
blind children to Keren-Or
at a young age so that the
multi-handicapped can take
those first steps of overcom
ing frustration, loneliness,
anxiety and sometimes
even parental mistreat-
ment.
That is why Keren-Or's
sophisticated training and
rehabilitation methods con-
centrate on the vital role its
staff must play. Even before
admittance, each multi-
handicapped blind student
is assessed by a team corn-
posed of a physician, a psy-
chologist and various
therapists. "That is the very
vital first step," Igra said,
"for one must realize that
the age mix ranges from 4 to
18 and includes the excep-
tional and even the retarded
with very low IQs." At
Keren-Or, for example a
ration of two or more staff
members to each student
enables it to achieve results
of almost "miraculous" pro-
gress.
The services that the
child or youth receives at
Keren-Or is extensive.
There is intensive training
in self-care, proper groom-
ing, body awareness and
personal hygiene. Adaptive
physical education is also
given to correct deficiencies
of muscular coordination
and capacity.
Part of the reason that
Israel is progressing well
in the area of the
multiple-handicapped, is
that it maintained a pro-
gressive attitude for
many years.
Keren-Or, for instance,
was founded in 1902 in a re-
nted apartment with 12
blind boys. It now trains
nearly 200 co-eds in nine
buildings in different areas
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take new programs for the
blind and to expand activi-
ties to include infants from
birth to age 4."
for your party
By
SAM FIELD
Call
399-1320
A teacher at Jerusalem's Keren-Or Center works
with a multiple-handicapped, blind child regarding
mouth hygiene. The center is the only Jewish residen-
tial institution in the world devoted exclusively to the
care and .rehabilitation of multi-handicapped, blind
children.
By BEN FRANK
zens of the Jewish state.
(Copyright 1981, JTA, Inc.)
Whereas other countries
If Israel is a country often pay pensions to the
which spends more time, ef- disabled, Israel invests
fort and money per capita on whatever is necessary to re-
the care and rehabilitation habilitate the person, said
of the handicapped and Igra, adding, "He or she is a
blind — and it is — the rea- useful human being to the
Let our Accredited GIA Appraiser evaluate your jewelry
son is that the Jewish community even if blinded
using modern technological gem-testing equipment.
people cannot afford to dis- or handicapped."
Diamonds are photographed and given "fingerprint"
card a single human being.
To drive home his point,
identification 'service. We'li- leave no doubts about what
Or, in the moving words Igra noted that in this day of
you have.
of the Bible, says Jacob Igra, instant communications,
an Israeli expert on the the blind person can be an
• Individuals
• Insurance Companies
• Banks
treatment of the handi- excellent typist or word-
• Estates
capped and blind, "Aravim processor. Thus not only is
ze le ze," which translates, typing one skill that
"We are our brother's Keren-Or teaches its stu-
keeper."
dents, but there is computer
Igra, who is the Israel programming,
representative to the World s Wi tchbo a r d-o per a ti ng,
Council for the Blind of metallurgy, psychological
UNESCO and who is direc- testing, travel agency work
tor general of Keren-Or, the and academic pursuits.
It is the philosophy of
Jerusalem Institutions for
the Blind, was a recent vis- integration which led
itor to the United States. He Keren-Or to pioneer in
studied American advances planning far-reaching pro-
for children who are deaf grams for multiple-
and blind, blind and re- handicapped and blind chil-
tarded, blind and brain dren — including some who
damaged, blind and emo- are retarded. Few countries
HOWARD S. NISKAR, GRADUATE, GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA
tionally disturbed and also in the world take their
Buy DIRECT from the IMPORTER
told about Israel's pioneer- multiple-handicapped blind
ing efforts in a country children on a city bus to
which has a very high per- visit department stores,
centage of blind and playgrounds, or even have a
soda at a cafe.
partially-sighted people.
C O. People For 0Tvehre 5DOiaYmeoanrds
"Ours and Israel's pro-
Some of Israel's
gram is geared to the ideal
achievements include:
• A program to place that all rehabilitative pro-
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blind people in computer grams and services help
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view the blind child in his within the limits of their
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environment and behavior who fled Nazi Germany in
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voted
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Keren-Or premises and
231 W. 9 Mlle Rd.
/4 blk. West of Woodward
placing them in factory jobs. handicapped, is con-
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Israel's achievement, ac- vinced that if a child can
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be
reached
early
enough,
tually its necessity to help
the blind, occurred because
of two realities, according to
Igra who heads Keren-Or
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Center, the only Jewish
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residential institution in
the world devoted exclu-
sively to the care and re-
habilitation of multiple-
handicapped blind.
First, a high percentage
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of the new immigrants who
FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW
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entered Israel at its birth in
1948 suffered from
trachoma which leads to
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the blinding of many citi-
-
OUAIL EDGE KlEENER
of Jerusalem. At the
Keren-Or Center, 17 multi-
ple handicapped blind chil-
dren are being cared for, a
large number when one
considers that a staff of two
and even three to one is
needed for 24-hour coverage
— and the waiting list is
enormous, according to
Igra.
The work of helping every
human being bring out his
or her physical and mental
capacities is not over for
Keren-Or. Plans for the fu-
ture are to admit more chil-
dren for whom "we now lack
teacher-classrooms and
dormitories," Igra said. "We
also must meet the request
of the government to under-
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