MICHA Society for Deaf Children - Tel-Aviv and Central Region was established to help hearing-impaired children acquire the basic tools toward the development of their full human potential and their future integration in Israeli society. One basic fact underlies MICHA's philosophy - THE DEAF ARE NOT DUMB. Under this banner, MICHA embarks upon the long and difficult struggle to teach each deaf child language and speech.
Infancy - An Irretrievable Opportunity The earlier the detection and diagnosis of the hearing impairment, the earlier the child's rehabilitation process can begin. Important professional guidance can thus be given to families in time. MICHA is the principal organization in Israel that offers proper professional care during this critical period of infancy. MICHA helps the child develop language and speech skills, and to come into contact with his/her family in particular and with the hearing world at large.
Learning to Listen with the Eyes
How does one teach a deaf child to speak? Processes that seem second nature to hearing children demand expertise, experience and sheer tenacity. At MICHA's kindergarten, the development and progress of each child is closely monitored by a kindergarten teacher specially trained to work with hearing-impaired children and by a speech therapist. Both work in close contact with the child's parents. Step by step, in this ongoing engagement with the intricate maze of language, the child learns to relate objects to words; to improve his/her lip-reading; to join letters into syllables; syllables into words, words into sentences. Each new syllable or properly pronounced word marks a small victory on the road to success.
Toward an Independent Future in a Hearing Society
Integration is possible. Even outstanding achievement. The many graduates of MICHA are living proof of it. Though effort, patience and resources are required, it is a most worthwhile investment. Graduates of MICHA Tel-Aviv have established themselves both socially and professionally. Many of them have volunteered for the IDF and some have served with elite units. Without MICHA, they might never have had a chance to make their voices heard.
Services offered by MICHA Tel-Aviv
	From Hadera in the north and Ashdod in the south, and even from distant Eilat, children come to MICHA Tel-Aviv. MICHA cares for every hearing-impaired child in need of its services: Diagnosis and fitting of hearing-aids Loan of hearing-aids until final fitting Individual speech and language therapy Nurseries and kindergartens with special teaching programs Integrated kindergartens Psychological treatment and counseling Social worker's counseling services Genetic counseling Book and game library Busing services Eurythmics Parents and family counseling
MICHA is involved in other projects such as:
Scholarships for MICHA graduates Training of students Public activities (including student visits) to increase public awareness Special councils on hearing impairment Research projects and surveys MICHA Tel-Aviv also operates branches at Ashdod and in the Arab village of Tirah (in Arabic, of course!), for the hearing impaired children of the Arab triangle. Many volunteers provide their generous support to MICHA in busing, raising contributions, organizing bazaars, office work, family assistance and many other fields.
Help the Children of MICHA Make their Voices Heard 70% of MICHA Tel-Aviv's budget rests upon donations. Faith, love and personal commitment cannot suffice. Care of the hearing impaired requires large budgets to finance teaching aids, sophisticated equipment, professional staff, special schoolrooms, operating expenses, etc. Parents cannot contribute more than a small share of what's needed to maintain an educational such as MICHA. Every donation can make a difference. Without it, pre-school hearing impaired children might have nowhere to turn to. Those who've put their heart and soul into MICHA, who've watched the children become full-fledged members of society, know the truth: a donation to MICHA Tel-Aviv is a rare opportunity to make a real change in someone's life.