'SAME' Model

The 'SAME' model enables participants' choice: *Skills – choose which skills you want to work on *Activity - choose activities you want to participate *Mediation - choose level of support you want *Environment - choose environments you want to explore. The principles of the model: encourage independence, meaningful interpersonal communication, improving mental health & well-being, accessibility, strengthening self-confidence & esteem, reduce loneliness. The services: *Yalla– social services for PWD from the Jewish society. *Sawa-social services for PWD from the Arab society *Sababa– social centers for young & adults with autism & cognitive disabilities & families. *Nofshonim- recreation trips for young & adults with autism & families. 

The program provides dozens of physical & on-line activities across Israel in Hebrew & Arabic, such as: social fairs, breakfasts, movies, shows, social gatherings, workshops, parties, trips, art & craft. In addition, it uses different digital platforms (e.g.- application & on-line broadcasted activities in a site) that helps participants be more pro-active in their social activities. Furthermore, the program also assesses participants level of digital proficiency & creates a specially tailored training program for them in order to advance their digital proficiency level.

The program provides social & recreational services for participants from the Jewish & Arab society, with needed cultural adjustments. Specifically, to the Arab society, it's the first time this population receives culturally & linguistic adjusted services that enables independent social participation in the society. 

The program, its' content & services are adjusted & offered to different age groups & functioning level. In addition, it includes different levels of support, according to the needs & wishes of participants & families. 

The program offers social & recreational services for participants & families, who live in remote geographical areas. This is the first time these services are offered for those who reside in this areas, which reduces inequality in services provision. 

Finally, the program offers unique services for specific sub-groups of participants, such as: the LGBT community, third age & etc.

The core principles of the model aim to enhance: encourage independence, social activities in the community, creating meaningful interpersonal communication, improving mental health & well-being, accessible activities, strengthening self-confidence, capabilities & self-esteem, reduce loneliness & enhance self-development & growth.

Beside this important impact, the program has tremendous additional impact. 20 years ago, In Israel & in a lot of other countries, it was not acceptable or common to see people with disabilities & their families take part in social and recreational activities in the heart of the community. Furthermore, people with disabilities had a general lower rate of participation in social & recreational activities in the society. Most of the social & recreational activities for people with disabilities & their families were segregated from the general society. 

In the past 20 years, the program succeeded in changing attitudes, perceptions & policies & reduced stigma while working along-side with governmental offices & officials. Together, they succeeded changing the social reality for people with disabilities & their families in Israel, which had a tremendous impact of their lives, helping those who need assistance to take part in taking part in independent social activities in the heart of the community.  So far, the program provided social & recreational services for more than 8,500 people with disabilities & their families across Israel. 

The program & model can be easily replicated in other countries & languages. The program & model is relevant to any recovery and person-oriented organization that wants to provide its participants a wide variety of social activities, that encourage self-development, exploring and independence. In addition, the program has already been adjusted to different types of disabilities, age groups and functioning level and to participants from different cultural backgrounds.

today the program expanded to Portugal and provides services for the general population as well.  

In 2005, Shekulo Tov established an innovative program which provides social & recreational services for 3,000 people with disabilities in Israel -11,000 so far. The program is based on the professional SAME model of recreation, developed in the group. The core principles of the model aim to enhance: encourage independence, social activities in the community, creating meaningful interpersonal communication, improving mental health & well-being, accessible activities, strengthening self-confidence, capabilities & self-esteem, reduce loneliness & enhance self-development & growth.

Since its establishment, the program provided services for more than 11,000 participants & their families across Israel - In "Yalla" & "Sawa" – 9,000 participants, in "Sababa" – 200 participants and in "Nofshinim" – 2,000 participants. 

Today the program provides services for more than 3,000 participants & their families each year. In addition, in the past few years the program started numerous new types of services, for example - social & recreational centers offering both parents & young children with disabilities to have meaningful social and recreational activities alongside the general population. Another example, is opening modular centers in remote geographic areas, which provides social & recreational services.