International perspectives: Israel

In this chapter we try to describe the history and development of services for persons with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) in the Middle East with a special focus from the birth of the modern State of Israel in 1948 until today. The focus has been on health aspects and care with a stress on the often difficult and hard work carried out be these health care workers. In the early years there was not time or opportunity to think about education, academic affiliation or research in health care or practice for professionals working with this population. The work has been illustrated with some data of the health profile, morbidity and mortality of the population. We would like to see the future development of services for individuals with IDD in Israel move toward a combination of both community and institutional care. We would like to have future residential care centers for persons with IDD established within selected areas or regions around the country to provide service for persons unable to stay in the community or at home and regional university affiliated centers to function as the medical center or home (one-stop-center) for persons with IDD living in the community or at home. The medical center at the regional level should provide prevention programs, rehabilitation and treatment in the health field, mental health, dental health, nutrition, preventive medicine (vaccinations, women’s health), physical therapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy for the target population within the whole area assigned.