Services

The Count Me In Beyachad Development Center combines a unique and comprehensive program of educational and rehabilitative services to provide special children with all the tools necessary to develop their vast innate potential. Children receive classroom instruction in special settings from teachers trained in Special Education. The low student-teacher ratio allows for each child to receive individualized attention and instruction. In addition to Academics, highly skilled professionals offer a whole spectrum of various cutting edge therapies such as Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, Vision Therapy, and Psychological services.

Count Me In believes that Music and Art are wonderful therapeutic and holistic activities for every child, especially those with disabilities. The world of music and art offers children with disabilities a dignified entree to community and social gatherings, while at the same time building their confidence and self-esteem. In addition, Music and Art are valuable diagnostic tools in the assessment of each child’s emotional and developmental state, providing a window into their soul.

The Count Me In Yeshiva Shel Maalah High School is an exceptional program of special education for boys and girls in their teens that have a developmental disability such as Down Syndrome. The Yeshiva Shel Maalah High School with special programs geared to Activities of Daily Living and vocational skills takes these special children a step up on the ladder of maturity and development. They develop strong learning habits and new life skills to enable them to integrate fully into society and be self supportive and self sufficient in a dignified manner.

Studies have shown that computer-assisted teaching greatly facilitates the learning of basic educational concepts and skills in children and young adults with Down Syndrome. The majority of these children quickly learn to use the mouse to interact with computers, which requires spatial, cognitive, and fine motor skills that were previously believed to be quite challenging for individuals with Down syndrome. Count Me In students are now using a variety of computer applications and computer related devices which are playing an important role in their lives.

The inclusion of children with Down Syndrome in a mainstream school program (Shiluv in Hebrew) is becoming commonplace in many countries. Reading, writing, math, general knowledge, spoken language skills, and better behavior are just some of the overall benefits inclusion can bring. At the Count Me In / Beyachad Center in Jerusalem, educators, therapists, and parents are being trained to understand inclusion and how to implement it successfully in order to reap the extraordinary gains Shiluv/Inclusion can bring to a special child.

Count Me In maintains in a dedicated location a magnificent petting zoo, complete with horses, sheep, goats, ducks, and chickens. Children learn responsibility and compassion while helping to feed and care for these animals. The sheer joy and pleasure of these activities is awesome, and the therapeutic benefits are phenomenal!