[Nyabs] Israel for Blind Youth

[Kathryn Carroll]

Read on. This looks like a good opportunity.

Kathryn
 >
 > Israel on the Horizon Summer Experience in Israel for Blind and 
Visually Impaired Youth



 > summer 2012 Ofek Liyladenu Israel National Association of Parents of 
Blind and Visually Impaired Children, in conjunction with the Jewish 
Institute for the Blind in Jerusalem, are planning the first special 
Israel summer tour program for blind and visually impaired youth, ages 
15 to 21. The pilot trip will be for twelve days, combining educational 
touring throughout the country with outdoor activities and social 
programs with Israeli youth. The 2012 summer program has reached out to 
include visually impaired youth from North America, England and 
Australia. The Israel experience has always been seen as an essential 
part of fostering Jewish identity and creating a bond between Jews 
around the world. Today, over 300,000 youth, 18 to 26 years old have 
participated in the Taglit Birthright program, bringing youth from all 
over the world to Israel for a 10 day educational experience. Research 
reflects that this experience is powerful in influencing Jewish 
identity, a connection to Israel, and solidarity with the Jewish people. 
Where Israel once received high ratings as inaccessible to people with 
disabilities, today the Ministry of Tourism has made great efforts to 
make tourism more accessible to those with disabilities and tourist 
companies have sprung up offering accessibe tourism for all ages. 
Potential highlights of the trip include: • Jerusalem’s Old and New 
cities, including the Western Wall and Jerusalem’s unique markets • 
Climbing Masada and swimming in the Dead Sea • Visit to Bedouin tent and 
discussion of minorities in Israel • Neot Kedomim, the biblical 
landscape reserve • Sports including goal ball, tandem biking, horseback 
riding and swimming • Meetings with individuals and organizations 
involved in issues of disability rights in Israel, including Members of 
Knesset • Visit to Israel Defense Force base for a briefing and army 
experience. We hope you’ll join us and tell your friends about the 
program. For more information, and pre-registration contact: Bob Fenton: 
bfenton at actcom.co.il
 > >>
 > >> Ofek Liyladenu www.ofek-liyladenu.org.il Jewish Institute for the 
Blind

-- 
Kathryn Carroll
St. John's University School of Law Class of 2013
(Ph) 347-455-1521