Following months of preparations, Shalva has opened its first Independent Living Residence for adults with disabilities in Jerusalem. Located within walking distance of the Shalva National Center, the ground floor apartment was adapted to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities and designed with care to ensure residents feel comfortable in their new home. The much-anticipated moving day marked a milestone in the lives of six young men who are thrilled to be starting their lives as independent people. It is our hope that this Shalva-run residence will be the first of many more high standard, independent living opportunities for people with disabilities.

Shalva’s Independent Living Residences offer high standard living accommodations, program support and customized quality care for adults with disabilities in Jerusalem.  Echoing progressive efforts from the UN Convention and in collaboration with the Israeli government, Shalva residences promote new standards of equality, dignity and inclusion for people with disabilities.  Succeeding 28 years of pioneering program development for children with disabilities, the initiative is the next step forward to providing Shalva’s beneficiaries with a continuum of life-long services and support to promote the actualization of their full potential towards self-sufficiency in adulthood.