Hard of Hearing Peoplein Israel

The State of Israel celebrates 60 years of independence

Organization of Hard of Hearing and Deafened People in Israel

Our declared mission is to advocate and act for the

improvement of the welfare and well-being of all of the country’s 700,000 hard of hearing people

(10% of the population).

Hearing HealthcareHearing Healthcare

Three types of Audiology centers: Hospital Three types of Audiology centers: Hospital Centers, community based rehabilitation Centers, community based rehabilitation centers and private clinics. A wide variety of centers and private clinics. A wide variety of hearing aids are available through these hearing aids are available through these centers. centers.   Five academic training centers, which Five academic training centers, which produce well-trained audiologists and produce well-trained audiologists and communication therapists.communication therapists. Hearing ScreeningHearing Screening. Most of the new born . Most of the new born babies have hearing screening. School babies have hearing screening. School hearing screening is well established too. hearing screening is well established too. Hearing Screening of people aged 65 and Hearing Screening of people aged 65 and above is also gradually becoming the norm in above is also gradually becoming the norm in Israel.Israel.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Deaf and Hard of Hearing EducationEducation

Most of the Hearing Impaired ChildrenMost of the Hearing Impaired Children’’s s Hearing Loss is detected before of the age Hearing Loss is detected before of the age of one year old. of one year old.

5,200 Hearing Impaired Children (up to the 5,200 Hearing Impaired Children (up to the age of 18).age of 18).

80% in Inclusive Education. 80% in Inclusive Education.

Academic training of teachers for Hearing Academic training of teachers for Hearing Impaired children (B.A and M.A programs).Impaired children (B.A and M.A programs).

Vocational TrainingVocational Training

Any individual with a disability percentage Any individual with a disability percentage higher than 20% is entitled for professional higher than 20% is entitled for professional studies and obtaining vocational experience. studies and obtaining vocational experience. Full funding of professional studies or Full funding of professional studies or undergraduate degree, funding of undergraduate degree, funding of transportation expenses, housing (if transportation expenses, housing (if relevant) and disability related assistive relevant) and disability related assistive needs.needs. For the Hard of Hearing, this includes For the Hard of Hearing, this includes purchasing of an FM system, captioning at purchasing of an FM system, captioning at real time or signed translation. real time or signed translation.

Upon graduation, career development Upon graduation, career development services are available to help seek a work services are available to help seek a work place.place.Once employed, the Government funds 90% Once employed, the Government funds 90% of accessibility needs at the workplace. of accessibility needs at the workplace. For Hearing Impaired this funding includes: For Hearing Impaired this funding includes: Acoustic adjustments (such as an acoustic Acoustic adjustments (such as an acoustic ceiling and wall-to-wall carpet, hearing ceiling and wall-to-wall carpet, hearing assistive devices, a laptop to be used for assistive devices, a laptop to be used for captioning with a budget of $9,000. captioning with a budget of $9,000.

EmploymentEmployment

Coverage of Hearing aids in Coverage of Hearing aids in IsraelIsrael

18,000 Hearing Aids are sold every year that 18,000 Hearing Aids are sold every year that mean that about 90,000 hearing aids are mean that about 90,000 hearing aids are being used in Israel at a time (about 15% of being used in Israel at a time (about 15% of our hard of hearing population use hearing our hard of hearing population use hearing aids).aids).The average cost of an hearing aid is $US The average cost of an hearing aid is $US 1,200.1,200.For children till the age of 18 it is for free.For children till the age of 18 it is for free.For adults only 12% of the cost for the basic For adults only 12% of the cost for the basic national insurance (80% have complementary national insurance (80% have complementary coverage to 33% of the cost).coverage to 33% of the cost).

Coverage of Cochlear Coverage of Cochlear Implants in IsraelImplants in Israel

Six Medical Implantation Centers. Since 1989 Six Medical Implantation Centers. Since 1989 more than 1,200 Implantations, most of them more than 1,200 Implantations, most of them are children.are children.

Up to the age of 18, IsraelUp to the age of 18, Israel ’’s public health care s public health care gives full coverage of Cochlear Implantation gives full coverage of Cochlear Implantation costs (one side).costs (one side).

After a successful campaign of Bekol and After a successful campaign of Bekol and suing to our High Court, one and half year ago suing to our High Court, one and half year ago Adults receive assistance of all costs of the Adults receive assistance of all costs of the implant too! implant too!

Major Goals of BekolMajor Goals of Bekol

To strongly advocate for equal rights To strongly advocate for equal rights and opportunities for HOH people in and opportunities for HOH people in all aspects of life (Law for Equal Right all aspects of life (Law for Equal Right for People with Disability 1998; Law for People with Disability 1998; Law for Subtitling on T.V 2005)for Subtitling on T.V 2005)

To make Israel accessible for HOH To make Israel accessible for HOH people.people.

To educate the general public, To educate the general public, authorities, media, etc. about our authorities, media, etc. about our problems & needs.problems & needs.

Johan arrived the day before Johan arrived the day before the election in Israelthe election in Israel

BekolBekol’’s staff with the Prime Ministers staff with the Prime MinisterNational Hearing Day 2007National Hearing Day 2007

The Bekol Accessibility CenterThe Bekol Accessibility Center

For most people technology makes things For most people technology makes things easiereasierFor people with disabilities it makes things For people with disabilities it makes things possiblepossible

Hard of hearing members of Bekol give 200 lectures a year about Hearing Loss and accessibility.

Self-help for HOH people all over the country.

Educating hard of hearing people about their problems and needs, courses, professional services and publications.

Outreach Activities

Information and support hot line for HOH people and their family members all over the country.

Computerized information center:www.hearing.org.il

“Call Bekol”

With the support of Ministry of Social Affairs, the JDC-Israel and the National Insurance Institute, we opened last month five information and support centers in five big cities in Israel near audiologist clinics to help newly hearing impaired people to cope better with their hearing loss.

New!Information and support centers for

Newly Hearing Impaired People

A day tour in the old city of A day tour in the old city of JerusalemJerusalem

……and even time to float in the Dead and even time to float in the Dead Sea Sea –– the lowest place in the world the lowest place in the world ! !

You are all very Welcome too! Thank

You are all very Welcome too! Thank

youyou!!