Israel / PalestineEarly intervention in autism
The Mifne Center was founded in 1987 by Dr. Hanna Alonim in Haifa and was the first institution in Israel to treat young infants with autism.
Goal:
Improve accessibility to early intervention autism treatment for all families, ensuring children receive timely and effective care and alleviating autism-related challenges later in life.
Objectives
Age-appropriate interventions: Focus on early diagnosis and treatment before the age of two, maximizing the success rate of therapy and integration into society, ensuring a brighter future for children with autism.
Increase affordability: Provide financial support to families unable to afford the cost of early intervention treatment at the Mifne Center, enabling all children diagnosed with autism to access vital therapies.
Description:
Contrary to long-prevailing beliefs that autism is a life-long disorder, a study of children treated at Mifne between 1987 and 2005 indicated that early intervention can reshape tendencies before entrenched behavior patterns develop.
The study found that 75% of children with autism can engage in typical social interactions with peers by kindergarten, provided they are diagnosed and received therapy before age two. By lowering the age to further, the success rate increased to 88.3%.
The DEAR Foundation Switzerland provides financial support to families who are unable to afford the full cost of treatment, enabling early intervention and alleviating autism-related challenges later in life.
