Staff

At the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons, integration into the workforce is more than a slogan or a project – it’s a fact of life. Hearing impaired, visually impaired, hearing and seeing professionals are employed together in our programs and activities, serving as an inspiring example of successful integration in the work force. Approximately one quarter of the Center’s staff are both visually and hearing impaired.

Key Staff People

Elias Kabakov, Professional Director: A recognized leader in the field of developmental disabilities, Elias has more than 20 years of experience in vocational counseling, job development techniques, rehabilitation skills and developing and supervising programs for the deaf, blind, and deaf-blind. He is also an experienced sign language interpreter, fluent in both American and Israeli sign language.

Elias holds an M.S. in rehabilitation counseling from San Francisco State University, CA and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Maryland. In addition, he was trained at the Independent Living Skills Language Laboratory to work with minimal language skill deaf adults and as an interpreter at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology. Elias often publishes articles about working with deaf-blind individuals and is a frequent lecturer at professional conferences.

Zehava Ravhon – Rehabilitation Coordinator, Ulpan Coordinator and Jewish Identity Program Coordinator: Zehava, who holds a B.A. in psychology from Bar Ilan University, has more than six years experience in the field of mental health, as well as 16 years experience in coordinating rehabilitation and social services for the deaf-blind.

Yonah Lipschitz, Social Worker: Yonah ’ s experience in working with the deaf-blind spans more than a decade. She has lectured on the Center ’ s special program for deaf-blind women in international forums. Yonah holds a B.S. in social work from Bar Ilan University.

Yaakov Bibas: Yaakov, who has Usher Syndrome, works at the Center both as a role model for children with Usher Syndrome and as a teacher in our Learning Center. He recently completed a degree in economics at Ariel College and is a certified deaf storyteller and sign language instructor. Yaakov is also a member of the planning committee for our new Learning Center.

Dana Levi, who has Usher Syndrome, is the coordinator of the Social Rehabilitation Center in Jerusalem for Arab Youth with Usher Syndrome. Donna holds a B.A. in informal education from the Kibbutzim College of Education. She has extensive experience in working with deaf children, including serving as a mentor and a role model for deaf and hard of hearing individuals at the Institute for the Advancement of Deaf Persons in Israel.

Mila Bilacherkovsky, Ulpan Instructor

Dorit Linsky, Ulpan Instructor: For the past 12 years, Dorit has taught in our unique ulpan (Hebrew language course) for the deaf-blind, which she also helps run. Her background includes an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a B.A. in Education and English from New York’s Hunter College. Dorit has 10 years of experience as an orientation and mobility instructor with the blind and visually impaired. She has also run language and translation services and taught English as a second language.

Rachel Bader, Karten Center Coordinator: Generous assistance from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation enabled us to add Rachel to our staff. Her responsibilities include interviewing prospective clients and presenting the program to the relevant governmental offices. Rachel is working on her bachelor’s degree in education for the hearing impaired at Tel Aviv University.

Ruth (Ruti) Nezer, Coordinator of Karten Corners: In addition to her teaching experience, Ruth has a solid background as a sign language interpreter for adults, as well as a mastery of Braille and other means of communication. Ruth holds an M.A. in type and media from the Royal Academy of Art in Hague, where her thesis focused on the effects of different typographical parameters on the reading and writing of individuals with learning disabilities. She also holds a B.Sc. in frontal communication design and a teaching certificate from Tel Aviv University and the Holon Institute of Technology.

Yael Halevi, Coordinator of the Role Model Program for Children with Usher Syndrome: Yael, who has Usher Syndrome, has many years of experience as a therapist with deaf and hard-of-hearing children. She also has a strong background as a dancer, actress and movement therapist. Yael holds a B.A. in literature and philosophy from Tel Aviv University, and certification as a Movement Therapist from the David Yellin College of Education.

Ido Cohen, Counselor, Social Rehabilitation Center in Jerusalem for Arab Youth with Usher Syndrome.

Liana Gal Palchan. Secretary

Deborah Toubi, Resource Management

Yaara Bram, Role model for children with Usher Syndrome

Idit Kliger, Counselor for children with Usher Syndrome

Sharon Fadida, Teacher, Karten Center

Tracy Van Ek, Teacher, Karten Center

Rachel Yilluz, Teacher, Karten Center

Dr. Ruth (Ruti) Shemesh, Ph.D., Psychodramatist

The Beth David Institute

The Beth David Institute was established in 1976 with the purpose of providing comprehensive educational, social and rehabilitation services for disabled populations in Israel.

In 1982, the organization established a residential home and hostel for developmentally disabled women. Beth David opened the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons in 1989, to serve Israel’s deaf-blind population, estimated at 1200 people.

Chaim Fuchs, Executive Director

Chaim has served as executive director of the Beth David Institute since 1982. His work focuses on developing the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons and Beth David’s residence for developmentally disabled women in Mevaseret Zion, Israel.