The Online Center for Independent Living

A project for people with disabilities, designed to help them live independent lives through online tools. It was run in conjunction with JDC Israel Unlimited.

The project included an array of virtual tools to promote people with disabilities:

• Peer counseling - with this tool, users could consult with experts, who were themselves people with disabilities, on various subjects regarding independent living. Peer counseling was designed to help users as equals.
• Online lectures - the project site had a variety of lectures on an array of topics to help the users. The lectures gave users tools that promoted coping skills and also provided a variety of information.
• Social communication - an excellent tool to get to know people and help people deal with loneliness. It was an extended chat system that allowed users to participate in a free conversation and subject-specific conversation guided by a social coordinator.

The Online Center for Independent Living provided the social infrastructure and tools for living an independent life. The goal was to develop independence both at the social level and in terms of promoting personal rights through peer support and contact with the experts participating. The uniqueness was in the accessibility of information and peers through virtual tools.

The Online Center for Independent Living

A project for people with disabilities, designed to help them live independent lives through online tools. It was run in conjunction with JDC Israel Unlimited.

The project included an array of virtual tools to promote people with disabilities:

• Peer counseling - with this tool, users could consult with experts, who were themselves people with disabilities, on various subjects regarding independent living. Peer counseling was designed to help users as equals.
• Online lectures - the project site had a variety of lectures on an array of topics to help the users. The lectures gave users tools that promoted coping skills and also provided a variety of information.
• Social communication - an excellent tool to get to know people and help people deal with loneliness. It was an extended chat system that allowed users to participate in a free conversation and subject-specific conversation guided by a social coordinator.

The Online Center for Independent Living provided the social infrastructure and tools for living an independent life. The goal was to develop independence both at the social level and in terms of promoting personal rights through peer support and contact with the experts participating. The uniqueness was in the accessibility of information and peers through virtual tools.