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.
MILBAT is a unique organization. Situated on the campus of the Tel-Hashomer university medical center, it combines an international information center on assisted technology with the R&D of missing solutions by a multidisciplinary team of professional rehabilitation experts and hundreds of the best (hi and low tech) technical volunteers Israel has to offer together with people with special needs. All of whom who work together to improve the functionality of disabled children, adults, and the elderly, by creating an accessible adapted environment through technology.
All of the devices were developed by MILBATs multidisciplinary paramedical staff, Israeli expert hi and low-tech volunteers together with people with special needs.
Some of the devices are patented others have patents pending and others are donated to the general public.
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 Chairpersons quality of life award in 2006, the Israeli Presidents 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 persons 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 Educations 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
· Naam lnaam - Disabled women helping each other in a project operated together with Joint Israel.
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. support@milbatvirtualshops.com
