The "Lev" Integration Center for Children and Adolescents with Disabilities opened in September 2023. The main goal of the Center is to help children and adolescents with developmental disabilities integrate into society. By involving children with disabilities in public life now, we increase their chances of a full, independent life in society in the future.

The initiator of the project is the Jewish community of Novosibirsk, which has implemented numerous cultural and educational programs. The "Lev" Integration Center operates on the basis of the Jewish Lyceum "Or Avner," but accepts children and adolescents regardless of their nationality or religion.

About the Center

Our children

300

Children and adolescents with disabilities have become beneficiaries of "Lev" Integration Center.

Areas of Work:

We conditionally divide the integration process into three stages:

First stage of integration: Initial consultations with the Center's specialists and activities in groups with other children with disabilities. Groups are formed taking into account the age of the child (adolescent) and type of activity.

Second stage of integration: Structured joint activities between children and adolescents with disabilities and regular school students (creativity, communication, games) under the guidance of a teacher/specialist.

Third stage of integration: Free communication between children with disabilities and ordinary children. A child or adolescent with disabilities can be a mentor in groups with regular school students or in groups with beneficiaries of the "Lev" Center. Similarly, a lyceum student can be a mentor in groups with children and adolescents with disabilities.

Children and adolescents with disabilities

For children and adolescents with disabilities, the range of contacts with the outside world is quite "narrowed." Parents and other family members living with children with developmental disabilities are usually busy dealing with treatment, rehabilitation, education, and cooking. Sometimes there is simply no time, energy, or resources for socializing children with disabilities. This is where the Center comes to help.

Parents of Children and Adolescents with Disabilities

It's not by chance that the "Lev" Integration Center is based in a regular lyceum. Every day, lyceum students and children with disabilities see each other. Several times a week, they participate in joint activities. This setting is an ideal place for live and natural communication between typical and special needs children. To immerse themselves in the topic of integrating children with disabilities, lyceum students attend "Kindness Lessons" and "I am a Volunteer" classes.

Schoolchildren

Integration at the Center begins with joint activities for children and adolescents with disabilities and typical school students (second stage of integration) and continues up to the Mentorship School, where school students become senior companions and guides into the regular world for children with disabilities.

Integration

For teachers, we conduct monthly trainings and lectures focused on the interaction between teachers and school students with special needs children.

The main tasks for teachers are: to understand the characteristics and potential of a child with disabilities, how to properly build communication so that it is effective and comfortable for all participants. Teachers should have an understanding of how to adapt special needs children into the environment of typical school students, so that both school students and children with disabilities feel like part of one community.

School Teachers

Creative Workshops (14+)
We will organize classes where Center's beneficiaries can engage in design, dancing, and animation.

Inclusive Workshops (18+)
We will teach basic professional skills.

Training Apartment (18+)
We will create a learning space where young people can apply their knowledge and skills in self-care and everyday life behavior.

Planned to Launch

Swimming Pool at LEV Center

The 15-meter-long pool consists of two basins. The first basin has 3 lanes, two of which are equipped with countercurrent systems. The water temperature is 29 ℃, with a depth ranging from 1.2 m to 1.5 m. The second basin has a separate lane with increasing depth from 0.7 m to 1.2 m. The water temperature here is 34 ℃.

Director of IC Lev

Sapozhnikov-Sokolovsky
Sergei Vladimirovich

Deputy Director
for Methodological
and Social Work

Andryukhina
Maria Viktorovna

Glasova
Darya Andreevna

Sizeva
Olga Vitalievna

Special Education Teacher
for Short-Term Stay
Adolescent Group,
Program Coordinator

Special Education Teacher,
Lead Specialist for
Short-Term Stay
Adolescent Group

Child Psychologist,
Lead Specialist of
"Early Intervention" Program

Zezyulinskaya
Maria Nikolaevna

Swimming Pool Manager
of IC "Lev"

Veselova
Valentina Gennadyevna

Kozyreva
Victoria Gennadyevna

Garamyeva
Yulia Vladimirovna

Special Education Teacher
for School Preparation Group

Tutor

Special Education Teacher,
Lead Specialist of
"Social and Daily Living
Adaptation" Program

Dokshina
Victoria Pavlovna

Specialist in Adaptive
Physical Education and Adaptive Sports

Savelyeva
Victoria Viktorovna

Parent Reviews

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