About ELIYA

ELIYA is Israel’s leading organization for the care and advancement of blind and visually impaired children, as well as for children with additional developmental challenges. Founded in 1982, ELIYA now serves populations in centers throughout the country, from its first and central location in Petach Tikvah, to Jerusalem, Rehovot, Beer Sheva in the south, and Haifa in the north.

ELIYA’s focus is on children from birth to age six, in the belief that professional and intensive intervention during these formative years is critical for the development of skills that will help them to successfully integrate into mainstream education and the community at large.

ELIYA children are offered a wide range of rehabilitative programs through its daycare, nursery and kindergarten facilities. These treatments are tailored to meet the needs of each individual child. An inseparable part of the child’s successful development is his or her family. ELIYA offers counselling and support to family members as part of its services. At ELIYA we believe that each child can and deserves to reach his or her own optimal level of achievement.  

ELIYA Milestones

1982 – ELIYA established

1988 – Program for children with additional developmental challenges introduced

1994 – ELIYA moves to its permanent center in Petach Tikvah

1996 – ELIYA introduces its Family Holiday program

1997 – ELIYA starts its Graduates Summer Day Camp program

1998 – Beer Sheva center opens

2001 – Jerusalem center opens

2003 – Hydrotherapy pool opens at the Petach Tikvah center

2015 – Jerusalem center moves to permanent premises

            ELIYA starts Visual Training course

2017 – Rehovot center opens

2017 – Beer Sheva center moves to permanent premises

            Establishment of the “Mary Bendet Innovation Program”

2018 – Haifa center opens
Absorption of professional manager Prof Kent Cozlow

2020 – Establishment of permanent building in Kibbutz Kfar HaMaccabi