Beneficial cooperation between the Achiya Teacher Training Center and Health Funds in Northern Israel
A beneficial cooperation has developed between the Achiya Teacher Training Center and the Health Funds Maccabi and Me’uchedet in the North. The melamdim who participated in the courses given by Achiya received important information and heard fascinating lectures on health topics related to children suffering from learning disabilities and developmental delays. Senior experts from both Health Funds gave the lectures:Dr. Roni Rabi’a, head of Maccabi branches of health services in Rechasim and its suburbs, and the neurologist, Dr. Sergei Shabbtai. Dr. Rabi’a expanded on the assistance provided to children with learning disabilities through the health funds, explaining that a portion of this assistance is included in the healthcare program, while the remainder is through supplementary insurance from Maccabi.
Dr. Shabbtai reviewed the subject of attention deficiency disorders in children, teenagers and adults, and presented to his audience methods for early detection in the classroom. Dr. Shabbtai also offered the teachers guidance as to filling out the diagnostic forms that are distributed by institutes treating such problems, so that it will be possible to give maximum assistance to those who need it; he explained how it is of utmost importance that the psychologists and neurologists work together, and described in detail the process of diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Danny Villa, director of the branches of Meuchedet Health Fund in the North and the Shomron, addressed the teachers. He informed the large gathering of the services which are offered by Meuchedet to children with learning problems, and discussed various aspects of child development.
Representatives from the “Clalit” Fund also expressed a desire to take part in the symposia, and it is expected that teachers in Achiya training programs will be hearing additional information from them in the future.
The information given melamdim and teachers as to the different services available in the community for children with difficulties is of significant importance. It is usually the melamed who is the first one able to discover that a child in his class has difficulty, and, when necessary, he can make the parents aware of the situation and refer them to a suitable treatment source. Early detection and intervention can, bs”d, greatly assist in narrowing gaps in learning and in preventing emotional damage, which accompanies technical challenges. Assistance given to a child will give him the strength and the ability to close the gap between his level and that of his peers, and will teach him that he, too….CAN!
