March 3, 2013

Beit Issie Shapiro’s Friendship Park, the first inclusive and accessible playground for children with and without disabilities in Ra’anana, is now being featured on Sesame Street to help teach about inclusiveness and tolerance. The leading Israeli disabilities charity recently announced a global partnership with Sesame Street Workshop to further the inclusion of people with disabilities across the world.

The Israeli muppet, Sivan, is the first puppet in the Sesame Street family worldwide who uses a wheelchair. Developed by Israel Sesame Street Workshop, Sivan is seen on Rechov Sumsum (Sesame Street in Israel) playing with her friends at the Friendship Park.

“Getting kids and their parents face-to-face with people with disabilities and having them represented in mainstream contexts makes these issues personal and real,” said Beit Issie Shapiro Executive Director Jean Judes. “It’s the best way there is to change society.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering together with Beit Issie Shapiro and HOP! to bring these issues to a wider community, and with the possibility of creating models that can be taken worldwide,” said global Sesame Workshop president and CEO, H. Melvyn Ming, on a visit to Ra’anana recently.

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