Books & Bikes for Beit Issie Shapiro May 22, 2011

BOOKS & BIKES FOR BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO
A FREE FUN FAMILY COMMUNITY EVENT CELEBRATING
THE NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK BY SYLVIA ROUSS
A CIRCLE OF SMILES

Sunday, May 22, 2011, 11am – 2:30pm

Hosted by Stephen S. Wise Temple Early Childhood Center and
The Cycle for Smiles Program To Benefit Beit Issie Shapiro

May 5, 2011 (Los Angeles) – Books & Bikes, a free fun-filled family event to benefit the programs at Beit Issie Shapiro (BIS), the premier facility in Israel working in the field of disabilities, takes place on Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Stephen S. Wise Temple Early Childhood Center. Hosted by Stephen S. Wise Temple Early Childhood Center and the Cycle for Smiles Program, Books & Bikes will offer two designated book readings and signings of the newly released children’s book, A Circle of Smiles with Author and Early Childhood Educator, Sylvia Rouss, who donated the story to support the work of Beit Issie Shapiro. A Circle of Smiles was created to educate families and young children about the educational and therapeutic programs for Special Needs children in Israel.

Activities for children include free bounce houses, Cycle for Smiles tricycle course, face painting, a Kosher Snack Shack, and open playgrounds. In addition, Art Cards made by the young children of the Cycle for Smiles Program will be for sale. Families are also encouraged to bring a blanket and food to picnic on the grounds. Attendees will also learn about the Snoezelen method with a recreated room to showcase one of the many therapeutic measures that Beit Issie Shapiro is well known for. BIS is the pioneer and developer of the Snoezelen, a controlled multi-therapeutic method, and its use in treating children with developmental disorders and special needs. The Snoezelen method involves the setting up of a multi-sensory room - a specially adapted harmonious sensory environment, which dramatically impacts the sense of well-being of people with developmental disabilities, relaxing them, focusing them, and arousing their curiosity and exploration.

The newly released children’s book A Circle of Smiles, is available for sale for $36 at the Books and Bikes event and at www.AFOBIS.org. Rouss is the award-winning author of the Sammy Spider series and a teacher at the Early Childhood Center at Stephen B. Wise Temple. Rouss has received the National Jewish Book award for The Littlest Pair and Sydney Taylor awards for Tali’s Jerusalem Scrapbook, Sammy Spider’s First Shavuot, and Sammy Spider’s First Trip to Israel. She has over 30 books in print. Rouss is also a featured author and lecturer at book fairs throughout the United States and Israel. A Circle of Smiles was created to educate families and young children about the educational and therapeutic programs for Special Needs children in Israel. “As a teacher, I know how important it is to recognize the individual uniqueness of each child,” says Sylvia Rouss, award-winning author of A Circle of Smiles and early childhood educator. “Writing A Circle of Smiles was an opportunity to assure that the children of Beit Issie are not defined by their special needs, but rather, as unique individuals striving to reach their potential.”
The Cycle for Smiles program involves children across Jewish Nursery, Day and Religious Schools who come in droves, riding tricycles, bicycles and even pushing wagons for their friends across the ocean. The children have built a strong and supportive partnership between California’s Jewish community and the community of Beit Issie Shapiro’s families in Israel. Through their continued love and support, a nurturing environment has been created, one that teaches about special needs, the values of tzedakah, and helping those in need. Children have cycled their way to $60,000 this past year for the Special Children of Beit Issie Shapiro.
For over 30 years, BIS has been changing the lives of children, adults, their families and their community. BIS is a national, multi-purpose organization that develops and provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. BIS has played a leading role in promoting the inclusion of people with special needs in society, and is a vigilant advocate for better legal provisions for people with special needs. BIS is raising the bench-mark in special education, treatment, and social services globally.

Books & Bikes is free to attend. Stephen S. Wise Temple Early Childhood Center is located at 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90077. For more information, please call (310) 889-2248, or email [email protected].

Beit Issie Shapiro is a national, multi-purpose organization that develops and provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. It has played a leading role in promoting the inclusion of people with special needs in society and is a vigilant advocate for better legal provisions for and with people with special needs.
The organization was founded in 1980 and has a measurable impact on some 30,000 people, annually. Through its international affiliations, community education and training programs its impact is also reaching professionals in other countries around the world.

• The Issie Shapiro Center provides innovative and high quality therapeutic and educational services.
• The Issie Shapiro Forum works for social change and advocacy in the community.
• The Trump Institute engages in development, research and training.

The Beit Issie Shapiro brand is identified with the development of knowledge and a commitment to sharing it with others. Through providing services, rigorously evaluating practices and developing replicable models, the organization constantly learns and developing tools to help professionals and service providers to upgrade their skills and improve their practices.

Beit Issie Shapiro is raising the benchmark in special education, treatment and social services.

Official Website: http://www.wisela.org