PROJECT PROPOSAL

 

WHEELCHAIR DANCE GROUPS PROJECT

 

ILAN – Background:

 

ILAN, the Israel Foundation for Handicapped Children, cares for some 15,000 physically disadvantaged adults and children suffering from diseases that affect the muscles and nerves such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular diseases.

ILAN has 46 branches all over Israel that are in constant contact with the disabled and that represent a channel of information for tracing and assisting this population and its special needs.  When it was founded in 1952, ILAN located child victims of the polio epidemic and organized mass vaccinations for children in Israel. In time, the State has accepted responsibility for providing this service and has freed ILAN to concentrate its efforts and resources on providing assistance and relief for the severely disabled individual and his family, promoting facilities for the physically disadvantaged and their special needs, and developing services for the disabled within the context of the community.  These services include a network of kindergartens, special schools and vocational training centers, sheltered workshops, rehabilitation and occupation units, residential homes for physically disadvantaged adults, as well as social centers and sports facilities.

Contributions constitute the main source of finance for the ILAN projects.  

 

The Wheelchair Dance Groups Project

 

Wheelchair dancing is a new ILAN project.  This  unique venture has become one of the most popular activities because of the dance itself and the unique partnering of each wheelchair dancer with a non-disabled dancer – a volunteer, a member of a local dance group or a family member  A typical group will have 30 – 50 wheelchair users and volunteers and will meet once a week.  Groups, such as the Rishon-le-Zion Group now perform at local events and have appeared in dance festivals  - Carmiel and Eilat.  The unique benefits of this activity are:

 

   The combination of rhythm, fixed movements and sequences that present a form of physical activity that develops physical and psychological well being and improves the individual’s mastery of his or her disability.

 

   The social skills and enjoyment that those that take part derive from this joint activity help develop self confidence and self esteem.

 

    The relationship that develops with non-disabled persons is one of mutual respect and often leads to the formation of a cohesive group whose activities expand into other social areas.

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Existing and Future Wheelchair Dance Projects

Wheelchair Dance Projects are at present at the following ILAN Branches:

1.   The ILAN branch in the Rishon-le-Zion.. 

2.   The ILAN branch int Herzliya.

3.  The ILAN branch in Haifa

4. The ILAN branch in Ramat Gan

Future Projects:

The popularity of the existing Wheelchair Dance Groups encourages us to set up more groups like this all over Israel. 

      The main costs involved, other than the salaries for the dance instructors and transportation are the costs of adapting wheelchairs for dancing.  The chairs in every day use take up too much room on the dance floor.  The ideal chairs have wheels that are upright and the footrests are set further back to facilitate movement.  These specially adapted chairs also make it easy for the dance partners to dance close to the chairs without the wheels trampling on their feet. 

 

                                         BUDGET

General Operating Costs (per project per annum based on a group of 20 disabled dancers)

Dance Instructors                                                         US$   7,500

Wheelchair maintenance                                                US$   2,000

Transportation (in vehicles specially adapted

for wheelchairs)                                                           US$   3,000

                                                                                    US$  12,500

* Each dancer’s wheelchair costs approx.-  US $ 2,200. 

* The National Insurance Institute contributes 80% of the cost of the wheelchair, and Ilan provides the balance.