The Department of Welfare and Social Services in Netanya and the Department of Psychological Services, in partnership with the Shalem Fund, held a joint seminar, in May this year addressing the issues of siblings in families with children with special needs. The seminar held in the presence of Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg introduced the special challenges faced by healthy children with siblings or parents who suffer from a chronic disease or disability. These include challenges and the gains alongside the different complex situations that siblings have to deal with
At the entrance to the seminar’s hall there was an exhibition entitled “Myself, My Brother and the Camera”, a unique photographic exhibition of 10 photographs taken by children with special needs and their siblings, as part of a photo-therapy group
In addition, the Lev HaMerkaz choir performed, the choir being composed of children with special needs and their siblings from Kiryat Gat. There was also a lecture about siblings, the use of different therapeutic approaches and more. The seminar concluded with a lecture given by Hagit Ron-Rabinovitch, a mother of four, whose eldest son 20-year-old Ilay, was diagnosed with autistism at the age of two, followed by a documentary film called “I Have a Special Brother” she has produced together with Eyal Rubinstein
The Shalem Fund awarded a grant and supported this seminar
