This past June a special day-long conference was held for the first time to present research studies supported by the Shalem Foundation. The one-day conference — the Foundation’s first in the field of research — was held at the Sheatufim Center in Beit Yehoshua. It showcased selected research studies that the Foundation has supported and that were completed in 2015. The conference was attended by dozens of professionals, members of the academic community, researchers, representatives of the Social Affairs and Social Services Ministry, representatives of local social services and education departments.
The Shalem Foundation began its support and promotion of academic research in the field of intellectual and development disabilities in 1998.
The Shalem Foundation received 253 applications for research grants between 1998 and 2014. Of these, 65 percent were approved. Of the applications that the Foundation received, 50 percent were requests for research grants, 39 percent were Master’s theses and nine percent were doctoral dissertations. To date, 64 research studies, 17 doctoral dissertations and 75 Master’s theses have been completed with the Foundation’s support. The Foundation invested NIS5.5 million in research grants during this period.
The Shalem Foundation received 253 applications for research grants between 1998 and 2014. Of these, 65 percent were approved. Of the applications that the Foundation received, 50 percent were requests for research grants, 39 percent were Master’s theses and nine percent were doctoral dissertations. To date, 64 research studies, 17 doctoral dissertations and 75 Master’s theses have been completed with the Foundation’s support. The Foundation invested NIS5.5 million in research grants during this period.
Sharon Ganot, Director of Information at the Shalem Foundation, says, “Among the applications submitted to the Foundation for assistance, the main fields of the researchers’ specialization were social work, education, health care professions, social research, psychology and medicine. The primary subjects of the research studies were integration in the community, caregivers, caregiving staff and social attitudes and perceptions.
“According to a study carried out by the Foundation and by researchers, among the research studies and doctoral and Master’s theses submitted to the Foundation over the years, 23 were cited in academic journals and 46 were cited in non-academic publications. As people familiar with the academic research field, these are inspiring figures and a source of pride. The subject of IDD has definitely become more fascinating over the years.”
“According to a study carried out by the Foundation and by researchers, among the research studies and doctoral and Master’s theses submitted to the Foundation over the years, 23 were cited in academic journals and 46 were cited in non-academic publications. As people familiar with the academic research field, these are inspiring figures and a source of pride. The subject of IDD has definitely become more fascinating over the years.”
At the day-long conference, the research studies presented included, inter alia, the following:
• A study by Prof. Shunit Reiter and Dr. Nirit Karni-Weiser of the University of Haifa on reports from people with IDD who live in various types of housing on the phenomenon of verbal violence aimed at them
• A study by Prof. Hephzibah Lifshitz and Hagit Hagoel of Bar-Ilan University on the reasons for the phenomenon of singlehood among IDD adults and adults with or without Down Syndrome
• A study by Dr. Hala Mashriqi, under the direction of Prof. Arie Rimmerman of the University of Haifa, on sexual danger, the capacity for standing trial, and the criminal responsibility of sex offenders with IDD
• A study by Professor Ruth Defrin, Professor Hagai Pik, and Tali Benromano of Tel Aviv University on the perception of pain and reactivity to pain among individuals with IDD and the search for objective indices of pain measurement
• A study by Inbal Devori, under the direction of Professor Einat Peled of Tel Aviv University, on the parental perceptions of the sexuality of men and women with IDD
From theory to action
As of 2012, the Shalem Foundation has begun engaging in applying research by showing studies to professionals and decision-makers, and by discussing recommendations for applying the conclusions of these studies on the ground.
View the presentations and lectures given at the conference.
Read the abstracts of the papers that were presented at the conference. (The collection of abstracts is in Hebrew, Arabic, and English)
