On March 21, Shalva was honored to host the Tenth Annual Down Syndrome Conference. This year’s focus was “The Therapeutic Relationship.”

Members of the scientific committee included:
• Prof. Yoav Marek- Ministry of Welfare, Dept. for the Treatment of Persons with Cognitive Developmental Issues
• Dr. Ariel Tenenbaum – director – Down Syndrome Center, Hadassah Medical Center
• Riva Muskal- chairwoman – the Shalem Foundation
• Sarit Rachamim – director of services for people with disabilities, Jerusalem municipality
• Nili BenDor- Ministry of Welfare, Dept. for the Treatment of Persons with Cognitive Developmental Issues
• Liron Benisti – director of research and development, Shalva

Some 400 participants from all over Israel were privileged to hear fascinating presentations such as:
o “The Messenger and the Mission – about the professional staff responsible for informing the parents about the birth of a baby with Down Syndrome, presented by Goldie Marans, MSW, coordinator Mother and Child Unit, Social Work Department, Hadassah University Hospital
o A lecture and video presentation about the inclusive kindergartens at Shalva, presented by Bati Boda, director of kindergartens at Shalva and by Tehila Freundlich, pedagogical instructor
o “The Family and Individual with Disabilities – preliminary research findings by Dr. Ayelet Gur, post-doctoral student at the Harvard Law School Project on Disability

In addition to lectures, participants were treated to a performance of the Shalva Band, which visibly moved members of the audience, and an exhibit entitled “Perspective of Love” – pictures of parents and their disabled children, together with the stories behind the photos, created by Mickey Arnon, educational director at Shekel.

Towards to end of the conference there was a panel presentation by families, moderated by Aryeh Shemesh, of the Welfare Ministry’s Dept. for the Treatment of Persons with Cognitive Developmental Issues, and by Liat Rahat, Director of Education at Shalva. The parents that participated gave a personal perspective on the messages of the conference. From their point of view, their journey as a family was empowered by a supportive and enabling “Therapeutic Relationship.”