I am honored to be part of the Beit Hayeledim family.   I have consulted with this wonderful preschool for over 25 years, and I’m always inspired by the staff’s dedication, their professionalism, and the loving care they give to the children and families. 

 Over the years,  lots has changed as Beit Hayeldim has grown to meet the needs of the dramatic increase in the numbers of young children diagnosed with autism.  The school has grown with many more classrooms, therapy rooms, and play yard spaces.   All are beautifully equiped.  And, now that autism is diagnosed in very young children, a model nursery program has been created to treat children diagnosed in their first year of life.  

But the core values remain:  This integrated preschool teaches children with special needs along side typical children; this inclusive school welcomes ALL children and their families, regardless of whether they are Jewish or Arab, religious or secular; and this DIR program makes learning fun and meaningful for each child, reflecting each child’s unique strengths and needs.

Of course, even in wartime, the dedicated staff put the children’s needs first.   When the sirens go off, and the children go into the school’s bomb shelters, staff lead special fun lessons.  Not only are children protected physically from the missile attacks, they are also protected emotionally by teachers’ calm, cheerful presence.

The excellent staff at Beit HaYeladim believe that all children can grow  and learn.  And the staff are continually growing and learning themselves, always seeking new knowledge, ways to improve their work.   Even in wartime, staff work overtime,  so they can participate in the in-service training I lead.                                                     

This pioneering program, with its growth mindset and beautiful facilities, creates a true community of learners (children, staff, parents), where young children with ASD and  their typical peers flourish together.

Ilene Lee, Ph.D

DIR Consultant