Israel Family Planning Association Addresses Sexuality Issues of Disabled People
Tel Aviv, Israel - The Israel Family Planning Association (IFPA) will be opening a nationwide center for disabled people in partnership with Re'ut Medical Center on January 1, 2004.
The "Open Door" center aims to assist individuals with physical or mental disabilities in developing and maintaining healthy intimate relationships through counseling and education provided by specially trained IFPA volunteers.
According to Miriam Brenner, advisor to the "Open Door" program, "As a general policy of raising the awareness to this issue [sexuality], I don't think it's been addressed anywhere in the world this way."
This newest "Open Door" center will provide free, confidential counseling and information on subjects such as sexuality, relationships, love, responsible and healthy sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infections, contraception, fertility, adoption, and social skills. This service will be available to adolescents and young people with physical disabilities, mental illness or mental retardation. The program's services will also be available to the families, teachers, and others who live or work with the disabled.
IFPA is currently seeking professionals in areas such as social work, education, and medicine, to train as volunteers to staff this new "Open Door" service. Training is free and will consist of 42 hours total -- 28 hours of counseling training in sexual issues and 14 hours of training in sexual issues specific to the disabled. This training course begins at the end of October.
The "Open Door" program for the disabled is being funded in part by a grant from the Bernays Foundation. More funds are being sought to run the program and private contributions are welcome. (Donations are recognized by the Income Tax Authority, Legal Clause 46. Income Tax Approval No. 580030179.) IFPA is the Israeli branch of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and also a full member of the IPPF's European Region.
IFPA's "Open Door" network has been helping adolescents, young people, parents, and immigrants for 20 years with issues regarding sexual health. "Open Door" centers can be found throughout Israel. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized "Open Door" to be one of the world's best preventive health programs.
Contact: Miriam Brenner 03-5356016
Shirly Geffen 09-7663493
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