The Rehabilitation Department [Revision 30/12/2002]

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1 The Rehabilitation Department [Revision 30/12/2002] (Back to Appeal 2004) Since its foundation in 1968, the Palestine Red Crescent Society [PRCS] has placed special emphasis on the psychological and physical well being of the Palestinians. As the Society established primary health care centers, emergency stations and hospitals, it also established rehabilitation facilities for the injured and disabled. The PRCS believes that rehabilitation is an integral part of the community development process and that the integration of disabled people within the general population is an essential component of this development. In achieving its goal, PRCS undertakes an holistic long-term approach to programming its services. It also recognizes that both health and social factors must be considered in rehabilitation. Hence, the Rehabilitation Department operates a variety of programs and services to best meet the needs of disabled people, including:- day care centers, family involvement, home visits, early stimulation programs, self-care programs, education, therapy, vocational training, job placement, recreation, psychosocial support and follow-up. In addition, PRCS believes that its rehabilitation objectives may be significantly enhanced through co-operation and co-ordination with other departments within PRCS and with local and international organizations in this field. The aim is to achieve optimal utilization of resources and expertise from the medical, social, educational, vocational, and technical disciplines. In Palestine, PRCS operates 15 rehabilitation centers. Most beneficiaries are children and youth under the age of 17, with the exception of the Children and Community Development Center in Bethlehem and the adult rehabilitation section in Al-Amal City in. The specific program areas for rehabilitation are as follows: Early detection and diagnostic campaigns of disabilities and conduct of early intervention programs - A child developmental screening program is being piloted in one locality in the Ramallah area and early stimulation programs for disabled children (0 to 4 years) are conducted in. Special education in self-care, education and recreation - the objective being to develop the abilities of children 3 to 16 years. Special education specialists and rehabilitation workers work with these children at home and at the centers to implement home and school enrichment activities. Educational programs are supported by therapy services as needed. Total communication programs provide special education for hearing impaired children in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This is a communication and speech therapy program, which incorporates Palestinian sign language, auditory training, lip reading, speech therapy and formal education. More than 160 hearing impaired children are benefiting from this program in Ramallah, Nablus and. Physiotherapy services are available in many of the rehabilitation centres. In addition, electrical therapy and hydrotherapy are provided in five clinics throughout Palestine. There is a physiotherapy outreach program covering 18 villages in the Nablus area, and physiotherapy services included in other outreach/home visit programs. The department is in the process of establishing occupational therapy units in several PRCS locations to be complementary to the physiotherapy services.

2 Hearing and speech therapy program - the Department operates 5 units in Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho, Hebron and, targeting children and adults with hearing and speech problems. Psychosocial care programs providing diagnostic and counseling services to disabled children and adults and their families are included in some of the rehabilitation centres. Vocational training and job placement programs provide training and assist disabled people to find employment opportunities according to their individual capacity. There is a well established program in that is training and employing disabled people (hearing impaired, physically disabled, mentally retarded and visually impaired) within PRCS and in a number of locations in the community. Pilot programs are being developed in other locations. Community-based rehabilitation programs focus on working with the disabled people and families in their home environment in order to assess needs, develop skills, provide home modifications, and increase public awareness. In addition to the program being home based, arrangements are made to enable the disabled person to come out of the home and into a community activity. PRCS is working with other local NGO s in carrying out this program in Palestine. The purpose of the program is to reach all disabled people and enable them to live in their home and community environment. The Arts and sport can contribute to the enhancement of the life-style of an individual, and so activities of this nature form an integral part of the education and recreation programs in the rehabilitation centres. These programs are also offered within the policy of integrating disabled and non-disabled people in shared activities. Toy Library Program - Toy libraries are being established in rehabilitation centers, to provide toys of therapeutic, educational and recreational value to children (disabled and non-disabled) in the community. This provides another opportunity for the integration of disabled children within the community. Summer Camps - Together with the Youth and Volunteers Department, summer camps (and sometimes also winter camps) are conducted for both children and youth who are disabled, many of the camps being structured so as to integrate with children and youth who are non-disabled. Staff development program - Continuing education programs for staff of the Rehabilitation Department are incorporated within the centres so as to enhance their skills and effectiveness. Training needs include special education, physiotherapy, sign language, speech therapy and first aid, as well as management and communication skills. Advocacy for the rights of disabled people facilitation of implementation of relevant legislation with particular attention to the adaptations of buildings to make them accessible to people who are physically disabled. The PRCS faces a special challenge in providing for the physically challenged people in the community. In addition to health and integration priorities, the issue of access and mobility is key for the future. For example, much of the existing infrastructure, i.e. roads, public building and houses are not conducive for access and mobility of disabled people. There is a need to provide for adaptation and pre-planning to support the integration of people who are disabled into the general population. To this end, PRCS is continually looking to develop new partnerships with respect to addressing these challenges and to exchange expertise and ideas.

3 PALESTINE RED CRESCENT SOCIETY Rehabilitation Program Technical Programs Supportive programs School and Home Enrichment Counseling Vocational Training Assistive Devices Physiotherapy Speech & Audiology Occupational Therapy Cerebral Palsy Mental Retardation Deaf Education Out reach Screening Diagnosis Injured Persons Community Based Rehab Awareness Campaign School Integration Toy Libraries Special Sports Art Program Univ. students training Staff Training Family Support

4 Serial Project Title Donor Budget Duration End Date Location The Needs No. 1. Improvement of education & therapy of the impaired children (PAZ) $ 465, Months 07-Jan - 05 Ramallah & Albireh district / TCC 2. Outreach Physiotherapy Care International $ 93, Months 01-Aug- Nablus Governorate Expansion of the program in West 3. Creative activity for children Netherlands Red Cross 4. Program of children activities Welfare Association 5. Up-grading of physiotherapy unit in Tubas Rehabilitation Center 6. Home & school enrichment 20 (Community Based Special Education) 7. Support of social work unit & continuing education in Al- Amal Rehabilitation center 8. Improving the living conditions of physically disabled individuals in 9. Improve the Education & therapy of disabled children 10. Up-grading of PRCS physiotherapy Units in the West Bank Norwegian Red Cross /22 villages Bank & Gaza $ 32, Months 01-Jun-04 Extension of the program & expansion to 3 areas in West Bank $ 50, Months 31-Dec- $ 33, Months 01-Oct- Tubas District/15 villages $130, Months 01-Jan-04 West Bank & Gaza $ 49, Months 23-Mar- 04 Al-Amal City- Care International $ 66,000 5 Months 01-sep- $ 612, Months 18-sep- West Bank/ two districts $ 447, Months 01-Jun-05 West Bank /five locations in 3 districts Pease Total 10 Projects 5 Donors $ % by the end of 20 2 national projects.8 regional projects Extension of the program for 1 year Implementation the project in Gaza &

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