El Halev has built a range of self-defense programs for special needs populations, including those with various physical handicaps, minor to medium degrees of developmental and communication disabilities, and emotional disorders. Such programming has been developed according to the core belief that all people are all born whole, strong and capable, with the inherent right to self-protection, respect and security.

Our specially trained instructors focus on helping to suggest or restore a sense of mastery, control and choice through physical and verbal assertiveness training (saying "NO") and basic self-defense.  As with all El HaLev programs, individuals who participate gain self-respect as they learn to tap into their inborn power, a lesson which is transferred to other areas of their lives.

These workshops are conducted in collaboration with the Department for the Disabled and Special Populations of the Centers for Culture, Youth and Sports Co. (The Matnasim Co.) and other ngo's and can either be conducted in El HaLev's Jerusalem hub or in individual communities.

Not only is El HaLev uniquely qualified to provide practical life-skills to this population, we hope, in a new undertaking, to train special needs individuals to serve as self-defense teaching assistants and, thus, as role models to others. This new direction will simultaneously create new employment opportunities for people who are automatically overlooked for placement in professional fields requiring physical acumen.