When war disrupts daily life, people with disabilities face some of the greatest challenges. They lose daily routines and miss critical therapies. Structure disappears, therapeutic and developmental progress slips, anxiety rises, and isolation deepens.
Under Home Front Command directives, we have closed our daytime frameworks for people with disabilities. Many of our clients remain confined to their homes or shelters, unable to step outside.
When There Is No Alternative, We Step In
We continue to take responsibility for those in our care because many families have no alternative support. When schools across the country shut down, Yochi Nofdgi, Director of the Chimes Venezuela-Kalisher Afterschool Program in Tel Aviv, began connecting families with volunteers who could step in safely and provide continuity, care, and human connection.
One Connection That Changed Everything
One of those connections brought together Nicole Galperin, 23, a student at Tel Aviv University, and Ilan Tursunov, 18, an afterschool program participant with cerebral palsy. With his routine gone, Ilan had not been taken out of his home since the beginning of the war. He spent much of his time in the family’s safe room and expressed his distress by shouting and jumping in his wheelchair. His single mother struggled to support him while working during the day and studying in the evenings. With Ilan’s limited mobility, she found it difficult to take him outside and still reach safety when sirens sounded.
Nicole stepped in immediately. She began visiting Ilan and taking him outside for short, safe outings. “I wanted to come and give the family a bit of breathing room, taking him outside in a way that wouldn’t put him at risk,” Nicole explained.
Restoring Freedom, One Small Step at a Time
These outings give Ilan something he had lost: movement, connection, and a sense of freedom. They also give his family something just as important, relief and the reassurance that his anxiety can ease.
Nicole shared photos from one of their outings with Yochi, who was deeply moved. “I saw a sense of calmness in his face,” said Yochi. “After the distress of being cooped up at home that his mother described, it was such a relief to see him looking content.”
“I think this small act has brought him a much needed change of atmosphere,” said Nicole. “It’s joy from the simplest things, like sitting in the playground, observing, and just getting out of the house for a while.”
A Volunteer Driven by Purpose
Nicole volunteers at Chimes through the FIDF Impact program, which provides scholarships to former IDF combat soldiers in exchange for meaningful community service. She came to Chimes with experience and a deep commitment to people with disabilities.
“In high school, I volunteered with Krembo Wings,” she said. “I loved the sense of fulfillment I got from working with children with disabilities. That’s what led me to choose Chimes.”
At Chimes, that connection deepened. “What makes Chimes unique is the weekly connection with the children. You really get to know them, even if they can’t communicate in typical ways, sometimes through gestures, or even just their eyes,” she explained.
Small Acts of Extraordinary Impact
Now, in the midst of war, that connection carries even greater meaning. “What I’ve gained from visiting Ilan is a sense of fulfillment, knowing that I am easing things for his family. It felt like a small contribution I could make during the war,” Nicole said.
Across the country, we at Chimes Israel continue to act on this same responsibility. Our teams and volunteers go where they are needed. We support families at home. We maintain connection, care, and stability, even when our centers cannot operate.
“Helping people with disabilities is especially important during times like this,” said Nicole. “Daily life becomes so much more difficult. Even small acts of help can make a meaningful difference for people with disabilities and their families.”
Making These Lifelines Possible
With the support of our volunteers and donors, we continue to reach those who need us most and ensure that, even in the most difficult moments, they are not alone.
