Hen Rotenberg at the vaccination center where she volunteers in Jerusalem.
Last Saturday night, United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Hen Rotenberg, a resident of Srigimââa small town south of Beit Shemesh, was about to step into the shower when her communication device alerted her to a medical emergency nearby: an 89-year-old woman had just lost consciousness in the nearby kibbutz of Netiv Ha-Lamed-Heh.
Hen had guests coming over, but of course, didnât hesitate and responded to the emergency. She had already participated in two unsuccessful CPR efforts the week before and was determined to do everything in her power to make sure that this resuscitation would have a different outcome.
Special Olympics Israel to transform accessible healthcare
People with intellectual disabilities have one of the lowest health access rates, and health outcomes, of any disability subset worldwide.
Accessible healthcare. Photo by Natalia Lebedinskaia via Shutterstock.com
Yona Rabinowitz, 20, has won medals in Israeli Special Olympics swimming competitions since she was seven.
Like any athlete, her physical condition is paramount. But people with intellectual disabilities often feel stressed and frustrated by doctor visits – even routine exams like vision tests – when medical providers don’t have the time or ability to communicate with them patiently and productively.
This problem can seriously impact the quality of healthcare for athletes like Rabinowitz, who has Down syndrome.