Self-Advocacy for Women & Teens with Disabilities

At Chimes Israel, we believe that every young person deserves the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves, establish healthy boundaries, and build respectful relationships. For adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, these skills are especially important as they navigate the physical, emotional, and social changes of growing up.

Thanks to the support of generous donors, our Self-Advocacy & Empowerment Program continues to help young people with disabilities develop these essential life skills. Building on the success of our previous workshops, we are preparing a new series of sessions for teens in our afterschool programs in the coming months.

Expert Leadership, Practical Learning

The program is developed and led in partnership with Machon Argaman, under the expert leadership of Ronit Argaman, a specialist in sexuality education, healthy relationships, and personal safety for people with disabilities.

Through interactive discussions, roleplay, repetition, and real-life scenarios, participants learn about body autonomy, consent, privacy, emotional awareness, online safety, and self-advocacy. The workshops are adapted to participants' developmental and communication needs, ensuring that these important concepts are accessible and meaningful.

Our staff also receive professional guidance to reinforce these lessons in everyday interactions, helping participants turn new knowledge into lasting skills.

Why Including Boys Matters

Although girls and women with disabilities face heightened risks of exploitation and abuse, empowering girls alone is not enough. Boys must also learn about consent, personal space, respectful communication, and healthy relationships.

Our program includes both boys and girls because everyone has a role in creating a culture of mutual respect and safety.

Boys with disabilities need opportunities to understand their own rights and responsibilities, recognize and respect other people's boundaries, express emotions appropriately, and develop healthy relationships. They also need the confidence to recognize inappropriate behavior, protect themselves, and seek help when necessary.

By teaching these skills to boys and girls alike, we help create safer, more inclusive environments where every young person understands that their voice matters—and that the voices and choices of others matter just as much.

Expanding Our Reach to More Youth and Adult Women

The generous donations we have received have made it possible to introduce this important program and prepare for its next phase. We are deeply grateful for our donors' commitment to the safety, dignity, and independence of people with disabilities.

But the need extends far beyond the young people we currently serve.

Our goal is to expand the workshops to additional Chimes Israel afterschool programs and women with disabilities at our adult employment centers.

Adult women with intellectual and developmental disabilities also need opportunities to strengthen their self-advocacy skills, recognize inappropriate behavior, establish personal boundaries, and make informed decisions about their relationships and daily lives.

For many, these lessons can mean the difference between remaining silent when something feels wrong and having the confidence and language to speak up and seek help.

Help Us Reach More People with Disabilities

While the support we have received has provided a strong foundation, additional funding is essential to expand the program to more locations and participants.

Your donation can help bring these life-changing workshops to more teens and women with disabilities who might otherwise never receive this specialized education.

Every additional workshop is an opportunity to strengthen personal safety, build confidence, encourage independence, and promote a culture of respect.

Please consider donating today and sharing our project with others who believe that everyone, regardless of disability, deserves to feel safe, respected, and empowered.

Thank you for helping Chimes Israel give more young people and women with disabilities the tools to protect themselves, advocate for their rights, and build healthy, fulfilling relationships.