Parents and Staff: Creating a Supportive Environment for Children with Disabilities

Parents and Staff is a professional training program developed by the Alumot Or team for parents and for educational and therapeutic staff. The program invites participants to better understand the world of children with disabilities and their families, to gain practical tools, and to strengthen the partnership between home and staff.

What is the program?

A professional training of four sessions on core topics in the lives of children with disabilities and their families. It combines professional knowledge, personal reflection, emotional dialogue, and practical tools for use at home and in educational and therapeutic settings.

What does it include?

The program includes four days of morning and afternoon sessions: three hours in the morning with the Families and three hours in the afternoon with the professional staff.

Both groups explore the same topics from different, complementary perspectives:

• An individual with a disability as perceived by society
      Identity, culture, and meaning.
      What does it mean to be a person with a disability? We will explore disability as an identity and as part of a culture, and examine the      difference between the medical model and the social model.

• Families of Children with Disabilities
      Parenting, siblings, and family dynamics.
      We will look at the characteristics of families raising a child with a disability, the dynamics within the family, and ways to strengthen family bonds.

• Modifications or Discounts?
      Practical strategies for providing support.
      We will examine the difference between accommodations and lowered expectations, and learn ways to create an environment that is supportive, accessible, and growth-oriented.

• Interpersonal skills
      Social skills and relationships.
      We will learn strategies for verbal and non-verbal communication, for developing social skills, and for strengthening interpersonal relationships.

Why does it matter?

Children with disabilities and their families need an environment that sees the whole person, recognizes their needs, and enables them to participate, grow, and feel they belong. The training helps parents and staff develop a shared understanding, gain practical tools, and strengthen their relationship with one another.

The process builds a continuum of support between home, school, and community, for the benefit and well-being of the child.

Who is it for?

The program is designed for parents of children with disabilities and for the educational and therapeutic staff who support them. It suits education, therapy, and counseling teams, as well as parents who want to learn more, share their experience, and gain tools for everyday life.

What will participants learn?

Participants will become familiar with different perspectives on disability and understand family dynamics and the importance of open communication. They will gain tools for providing tailored support, encouraging social communication, and strengthening the relationship between parents, child, and staff.

The training offers a space for shared learning, dialogue, and thinking together about practical ways to create a supportive and inclusive environment.

What makes the program unique?

The program brings parents and staff together around the same topics while tailoring the content to each audience. It builds a shared language, makes room for different points of view, and lays the foundation for productive collaboration.

Who are our partners in this process?

The program was developed and is delivered by the Alumot Or team, drawing on extensive professional experience supporting children with disabilities, their families, and educational and therapeutic teams.

To enter the learning environment: Click here

Content development: Dr. Shahar Bar-Yehuda and Orit Horowitz
Methodological development: Merav Sadovsky