One of our vocational rehab service recipients, a person with high-functioning autism, worked for about ten years as a security guard. Throughout this long period, he did not give up on his big dream – to work for a high-tech company in the field in which he acquired professional certification.
Ten years of dreaming, determination, and hope – paid off ?. With the support of his terrific vocational coach, he applied for and landed a full-time job at Origin GPS. He has been working there for a month, loves the job and is flying high. His employer also discovered that it was worthwhile to have him on the team – a hard-working, dedicated and punctual worker. A real win-win situation. It’s wonderful that there are those who dream and others who believe in the dream and help make it come true.
We are proud of you ?

Yossi, a charming and talented young man, started Bayit Cham’s supported employment program about 5 years ago.
He suffered from severe anxiety, low self-esteem and social phobia that made it difficult for him to be in the company of people. Due to his phobias, he began transitional employment at a wedding hall setting tables. His vocational coach met with him daily, encouraged and supported him, and strengthened his employment skills.
After a few months, the director of supported employment encouraged Yossi to move ahead to a position that better suited his advanced skills. Yossi, of course, was very anxious and resisted the idea. His vocational coach assured him that he would not be alone – she would help him with anything he needed. Yossi decided to trust her and moved on to work as a cashier. Another step along the road to recovery…
The coach kept her word and came to the store every single day. She talked to Yossi, supported him and gave him feedback on his successes. Yossi recounts how much her presence instilled in him confidence, how it helped him to talk about the difficulty and about his employer. Slowly he was able to calm down.
Yossi worked well and once again, after only a few months, he was offered a new opportunity. His employer had just opened a large, new branch in the city and asked Yossi to manage the store! This entailed arriving at 6.30 in the morning, opening the store, being in charge of the finances, suppliers, orders, goods, customers, etc. – all alone!!!
Can you guess how Yossi reacted ??
The biggest fear was being on his own… “And what if I don’t feel well??”
But his employer insisted that he was the man for the job and his coach provided support, encouragement and coping skills. In the end, he agreed! Now Yossi arrives at the branch every morning with the first bus, opens, organizes, manages and does unparalleled work for over 3 years?
Today his coach’s support is more sporadic but he continues to meet with her when needed to work out his difficulties. For example, with the outbreak of corona, anxieties resurfaced and increased significantly, so once again, the support was intense. His coach helped him normalize his fears and reduce anxiety; Yossi continued to function excellently just as he is capable of doing… but that’s not all!
As Yossi’s recovery process progressed, in the past year he began to talk about his desire to marry and start a family, something that had not occurred to him before because he was not emotionally ready for it. Our amazing coach directed him to the relevant resources, Yossi began dating for marriage and… got married 5 months ago! ? Of course, his coordinator also came to this very exciting wedding?
In a conversation with his coach prior to the wedding, Yossi suggested having the wedding on Zoom? (social phobia and all that…) but she reported that he bravely withstood the challenge throughout the entire affair with much emotion and heroism. It was an amazing event.
These days Yossi is learning to integrate marriage and work and has begun the process of getting a driver’s license, studiously preparing for his written exam. He continues to be in touch with his vocational coach for emotional support.
His coach sums up:
“With belief in another person’s capabilities, anyone can get to where they want to go! With the right guidance and support, it is definitely possible! In supporting clients, I really like to use a meaningful tool – ‘learning from success’.”

“My name is Niv, I’m 23 years old and I live with my parents. I was born with PDD-NOS – a light case of autism, and without an outer left ear, so I can only hear with my right ear.
I have completed three and a half years of full voluntary military service. I served in the elite Duvdevan unit as a cook. I enjoyed every minute of it and the soldiers enjoyed me… I like to cook – it’s therapeutic for me?
Today, with the support and guidance of Bayit Cham, I have been working for half a year at “Eretz Bereshit” as a sous chef – the chef’s right-hand man ? I also feed the goats every morning before I start working in the kitchen ?
The bosses, the chef and the entire staff are wonderful people.
Once a week or two, Yehuda (a top-notch vocational coach at Bayit Cham) comes to see me. We sit and talk. I tell him about what I’m going through and we talk and see how we can solve the problem. Sometimes it’s hard for me to understand situations, such as pressure that at times I don’t feel understood.
But without a doubt, from a young age I showed my parents that I know how to be independent. It’s really not self-understood.
Besides, from a young age I have always loved music. I began playing guitar when I was 16, writing and composing.
My dream is to learn more cooking and music.
It is important to me, as a person with disabilities, to show everyone that the sky’s the limit and that everyone should see that we, the “different” population, can also find a job and make a respectable living.”

Is there anything more exciting than that?! We’ve been in love with Niv for a long time…
Niv, you are a role model‼️ – in motivation, drive, active doing and smiling, inside and out! We have no doubt that you will go far and we wish you much success.

We promised you some more recipes so here is a really delicious one that is good for the heart♥️
The amazing Ro’i works in Vardinon – a famed bedding store chain – and receives vocational coaching from Bayit Cham. Here’s his recipe for a personal miracle that increases his light:

Friends
Work in the mall
Co-workers at the store
Social gatherings with fun guests at candle-lighting in the evening in the apartment with flat-mates
Ro’i usually takes a little bit of everything and serves it up on a platter of cooperation that really adds zest to the taste, with a smile, acceptance at the workplace and an opportunity for advancement!
Marcel, a co-worker, had to add his opinion of the recipe?: Ro’i is our light in the store☀️, he helps the employees and smiles at everyone, helps the customers politely and with joy – he really spreads light!
The recipe is definitely recommended?. Try it and tell us in the comments how it turned out …
Thank you very much Ro’I; we are proud of you ?
Happy third Chanuka candle!?
Follow us for more recipes!

For the past seven months, the lovely 24-year-old Hodaya has been part of Bayit Cham’s supported employment program, under the loving guidance of Dina Allal, one of our expert coaches in Israel’s central region. Hodaya has Asperger’s (on the autism spectrum) and the main challenges she faces are difficulties in communication and in interpreting social situations. In supporting her, we focus on analyzing social situations at work and coaching her how to react appropriately and adapt her behavior. Today Hodaya has already made amazing strides in her inspiring journey. She works as a distribution manager at a “Yesh Chesed” supermarket, a position that is perfectly suited to her strengths. Her great attention to detail, meticulousness and the need for repetition that characterize her, together with her improved social skills, make Hodaya an outstanding, devoted employee ??.
Besides for her outstanding performance on the job, in her free time Hodaya loves to embroider and these days she is making some more progress in her journey… Hodaya is opening a Gemach, loaning beautiful bris pillows – her original, hand-embroidered creations! ? She is eagerly awaiting the first borrower ?
In addition, Dina is looking into an opportunity to fulfill another of Hodaya’s dreams – to give embroidery lessons at Bayit Cham’s Shiluvim vocational rehab center or somewhere else♥️
We are proud of and excited for Hodaya! We wish her lots of success‼️ (and many thanks to our champion coach, Dina??)
As to you – if you are preparing for a bris, Hodaya will be happy to lend you a pillow. Ring her up at 055-6811112.
Share and tag where relevant… Mazal tov♥️♥️♥️