MILBAT is a non-profit organization headed by Dr. Yigal Ben Shalom, the retired director of the National Insurance Institute.

 

MILBAT was established in 1981 with the goal of increasing the level of independence, improving the quality of life, and facilitating integration into the community for disabled children and adults, and the elderly, by means of an accessible, adapted technological environment.

 

The creators and founders of MILBAT were Daniel Barak, an engineer from the Weizmann Institute, and the late Professor Rafi Rozin, who established and headed the rehabilitation unit at Tel Hashomer Hospital. They were supported by Mrs. Aliza Begin (wife of Menachem Begin), the National Health Institute, Joint Israel, the Ministry of Defense, and the Yahal Foundation.

 

The unique contribution of MILBAT has been recognized by the medical, welfare, and education establishments, and by the thousands of people who have benefited from its services. MILBAT was awarded the Israel Knesset Chairperson’s quality of life award in 2006, the Israeli President’s award for voluntarism in 2004, the Minister of Health Honorary Shield in 2002 and more.

 

MILBAT Activities

MILBAT has a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team (occupational, physical and speech therapists and a social worker) and over 300 volunteers, offering a variety of services in five languages (Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic, and English):

 

·         Development by volunteers of special assistive devices when there is no commercial solution available for a specific person’s need.

·         Development of therapeutic games and musical instruments which are unique in Israel and globally, and are for special needs children and elders.

·         Provide personal, professional counseling in selecting assistive devices for improvement of all areas of functionality (personal care, mobility, seating, computer, assistive and alternative communication, environmental control, leisure activities, work, play, etc.)

·         Operation of an Information Center which provides details on how to obtain assistive devices whether for purchase or loan. MILBAT does not sell the devices.

·         Operation of Display Centers – a permanent display at Tel Hashomer Hospital, and a mobile display in vans – enabling trying out a wide variety of accessories.

·         Provide professional guidance services to students and professionals in the areas of health, education, and welfare, and also to groups of disabled people, their families, and to the elderly.

·         Establishment and operation of “Azarim” a nonprofit national database for assistive technology, available to the public on the Internet www.azarim.org.il

 

In addition, MILBAT operates special projects:

·         "MILBAT in the community" to provide MILBAT services to outlying communities. Within this framework, MILBAT operates mobile units and also “MILBATON”, branch units operated by the local community with volunteers (together with Joint Israel) providing professional services such as guidance for groups of the elderly and the disabled, individual counseling, trying out assistive devices, identifying people who need specially developed assistive devices which volunteers could create. These services are all free of cost.

 

·         "I can do it too" – a project that promotes creative technological thinking among healthy youth and exposes them to the world of people with disabilities. This project, operated in cooperation with the Ministry of Education’s Dept. of Technical Education, the students develop innovative assistive devices for people in their communities.

·         “Mesira” (journey) – operated together with Joint Israel to improve the quality of life for disabled people in the Arab sector

·         “Na’am l’naam” - Disabled women helping each other in a project operated together with Joint Israel.

 

MILBAT Target Population

In 2008, 23,000 people from all sectors of Israeli society were assisted directly by MILBAT and additional 212,000 people through Azarim data base:

·         Children and teens with disabilities

·         Adults with disabilities

·         The elderly facing problems of lessened functionality because of age, temporary or chronic diseases

·         Israel Defense Forces disabled and victims of terrorism

·         Professionals and students in the fields of health, rehabilitation, welfare, education, and design

·         Students and teachers in mainstream elementary and middle schools

 

MILBAT Volunteers

The widespread creative activities of MILBAT are made possible by the involvement of more than 300 volunteers from the fields of electrical engineering, health, computers, management, etc., including private citizens, groups of workers and retired people from leading organizations in Israel: Rafael, Malam (Israel Aircraft Industries), Israel Defense Forces, Motorola, Bank Hapoalim, El Al, Kintix, , and other organizations.

 

MILBAT Budget

MILBAT activities are made possible through the support and cooperation of government ministries (Health, Defense, Welfare, Elderly affairs), Eshel, the Joint, the National Insurance Institute, contributions from businesses, private individuals, Jewish communities, foundations in Israel and in other countries. Donations to MILBAT are tax-deductible in Israel, the United States, and Great Britain.

 

MILBAT Officers

Chair: Dr. Yigal Ben Shalom, retired head of National Insurance Institute, retired manager of Ministries of Labor and Welfare

Executive Director: Mr. Nachman Plotnizsky

Professional Director: Mrs. Shoshana Goldberg-Mayer, occupational therapist

Honorary Chair of Friends of MILBAT: General (Reserves) Yirmi Olmert

Chair of Friends of MILBAT: Dr. Nadir Tzur