The Center for Deaf-Blind Persons is the only framework in Israel that initiates and operates a wide range of services and programs for individuals with the dual disability of deaf-blindness. Over the past nearly two decades, thanks to The Ian Karten Charitable Trust, our Karten CTEC for deaf-blind individuals has successfully served hundreds of deaf-blind individuals. Over the years we have built up a staff of well-trained, dedicated teachers, most of whom are themselves deaf, blind or deaf-blind. One, Rachel, was the recipient of the 2009 Karten award for the ”client who has made the most progress”.
Two years ago, the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons began a pilot program, “Nachala”. “Nachala” is an acronym (in Hebrew) for “Sensory Accessibility for the Elderly” and it was designed for individuals whose hearing and vision have been significantly diminished by causes related to old age. It is the first program in the country to study and focus on the unique needs of this growing population from the perspective of deaf-blindness.
Initially, we worked on researching the situation in other countries, conducting massive outreach to locate, identify and gradually conducting intake interviews with potential participants. In the course of the pilot we located 206 potential participants and began to develop examples of personal intervention plans, to provide services and to evaluate the results.
In most cases we found an urgent need for assistance maintaining (or regaining) independence and for reducing the isolation and loneliness that often accompany old age, and which are greatly exacerbated by impaired vision and hearing. Both are areas in which learning vital computer skills with the aid of accessibility software and hardware can have a tremendous impact. For example, the ability to once again communicate with friends and family can relieve the extreme isolation.
Thanks to The Ian Karten Charitable Trust, we have the necessary experience, the experienced teachers and initial equipment to develop this service. We are proud to report that over the course of the pilot program, thanks to our Karten CTEC for deaf-blind individuals, over a hundred of these clients began to receive computer lessons!
One can be seen here, learning to use an audio book connected directly to her hearing aid. She was ecstatic with the results and the new possibilities that this first lesson, taught by our blind/hearing Computer Skills teacher, opened up for her.
“With technology like this I am happy to live to 120” was how a 97 year old client named Tibor summed up his reaction. Legally blind, hard of hearing but completely lucid, kind, active and curious, Tibor was born in Hungary, survived the Holocaust and lived in South America before immigrating to Israel. He was extremely frustrated by his deteriorating vision, which prevented him from continuing to use his computer even when he enlarged the text as much as he could. Together, our Computer Skills teacher and social worker found solutions, and taught him to use a tablet, with inverted colors and other adjustments. This training gave him back the ability to access the Internet and the information, leisure activities and communication he was so thirsty for. As a result, he was inspired to purchase a tablet and now uses it daily, first for his morning prayers and then to communicate, learn and enjoy throughout the day. He is no longer dependent on his daughter to come from afar to help him with every little thing, but rather independent and happy. He now recommends computer lessons for all elderly people.
Another client requested assistance in learning how to use her phone, together with accessibility hardware/software, to stay in touch with her daughter. During the first lesson she confided that she has difficulty remembering things and is very upset that she can no longer see well enough to use her physical calendar. Our teacher taught her how to use a voice activated calendar and she literally cried for joy at the freedom it offered from forgetting where to go and what to do.
As one teacher put it; “I not only demonstrate how to solve the problem, I also give ‘homework’ and follow up to make sure they are internalizing the new skills. … I see that I am really making a difference, that they are learning important skills that enable communication, access to information and independence. It’s incredibly satisfying!”
Several clients learned to independently access and use the new government website which aims to incorporates all of the necessary information about rights for, and ways to, purchase subsidized accessibility equipment.
One client, Tsila, lives alone and sorely missed contact with her grandchildren. They tried to help by putting pictures of themselves on her tablet, but she could not identify their faces from the small pictures. Our Computer Skills instructor helped her to set up her tablet with enlarged names inverted colors. Between that and the help connecting her hearing aids to the speaker, she can now independently contact each of them at will. As a result, she both feels more independent and is far less isolated.
One unexpected challenge we encountered was the complexity of interactions with the client’s family members. Israeli culture is family-oriented and family members typically have good intentions and mean well. In some cases, they attempt to be over involved, for example to be present at computer lessons, which greatly complicates scheduling. In other cases, they are caught – as if in a sandwich – between caring for their own children, dealing with their own challenges and caring for their elderly parents. In the long run, this can lead them to “burn out” and even damage the relationships between the generations.
Based on the extremely positive results of the pilot, which is now nearing completion, we could have proceeded directly to a full-scale program. However, we preferred to first engage an external professional evaluator to analyze the pilot program, including interviewing clients and studying the overall picture. This week he presented his interim findings, and in the coming month the remaining interviews will be completed. Then he will study the data, complete the evaluation and report back with clear written recommendations as to how best to proceed. We look forward to updating the Network about future progress!
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- This article was written by the Centre for Deaf Blind People Karten Centre
- Featured in the Karten Winter 2025 Newsletter
- This article is listed in the following subject areas: Centre News