One of the toughest imbalances children face in the classroom can come from learning disabilities, the most common of them all is dyslexia. In Israel, one in five children suffer from some form of dyslexia.

This highly common condition leaves many children who are bright, talented, very intelligent and creative with a disadvantage in a school system that thrives on memorization, text based reading and writing, as well as other visual triggers to pass on information.

To help give children suffering from dyslexia the tools they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom, one organization in Israel is stepping up to fill a great need that has, until this point, been sorely neglected.

To answer the needs of the children who live with this condition, Kol Koreh is stepping up to fulfill the call.

Kol Koreh is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the learning needs of students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities in Israel. The organization focuses on teaching alternate techniques to children who have dyslexia to help them cope with and overcome their disability.

The name of the organization is based on the Biblical verse found in Isaiah 40:3, where the word “ Kol ” means “voice” and “ Koreh ” means “calls out.” In today’s Hebrew language, an alternative way “ Kol Koreh ” can be understood is “everybody reads.”

“The organization has created a curriculum which can easily integrate into any school and not only give skills and education for those with these challenges, but also give the children a sense of accomplishment,” the organization explained.

The Kol Koreh system includes staff providing support and guidance for the dyslexic child, empowering teachers to be able to more easily identify and help students with dyslexia, as well as setting up and maintaining learning centers in or near the school at local community centers to help give each child more attention.

Kol Koreh also offers ‘creative expression’ workshops to enable the students to express themselves via their other strengths. The after-school support that the organization provides is not limited to the students themselves, but also extends to the parents and teachers of the children.

Vanessa Radom, a mother of a child with learning disabilities, said that before Kol Koreh, “she felt lost in the system with no one to really turn to or understand my child’s needs.” Today, with the help of the dedicated team at Kol Koreh, Vanessa’s child is able to “reach her potential.”

Israel based psychologist Dr. Leah Haber explained that the Kol Koreh system “provides a unique combination of rigorous psychological, educational knowledge and hands on advocacy in the schools, community and government.”

Dr. Haber credits Kol Koreh with helping to fill the void with regards to identifying and diagnosing learning difficulties, thereby giving children the ability to “learn successfully and thrive.”

Kol Koreh: Fighting for Children with Learning Disabilities

The model is currently being implemented in its first city, Beit Shemesh. Based on increasing requests from educators and parents in other communities, Kol Koreh is seeking to replicate this model across Israel.

In just under two years of operation, Kol Koreh has helped over 100 learning disabled students providing them with access to learning interventions and developing individualized learning programs and adaptations.

Working hard to increase communal awareness, children suffering from language based learning difficulties now have advocates fighting for them in the Kol Koreh organization, giving them the chance to succeed in life.

To find out more about Kol Koreh, click here.