Israeli Court Hears Case Over Underfunding of Therapeutic Daycare for Disabled Toddlers
About two weeks ago, Israel's Supreme Court held a final hearing on a petition filed over four years ago by some 30 organizations operating therapeutic daycare centers for toddlers with disabilities. The petition challenged the state's inadequate funding for the para-medical treatments these centers are legally required to provide. While framed as a budgetary issue, the hearing raised a broader question: what is the value of a legal right if the state does not allocate sufficient resources to realize it?
Enacted in 2000, Israel's groundbreaking Therapeutic Daycare Law mandates comprehensive care for disabled toddlers, integrating education, rehabilitation, social work, and family support under one roof. This system was designed to ease families' burdens by providing coordinated, effective treatment. Currently, about 4,500 toddlers receive services in these centers nationwide. However, despite the law and the recognized importance of health professionals, the state funds para-medical staff at significantly lower rates than health maintenance organizations (HMOs). HMOs receive roughly 220 shekels per treatment hour, while therapeutic daycares get only about 100 shekels. This growing funding gap has made it difficult for centers to recruit and retain essential professionals such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.
Edna Karni, director of the "Beit Raz" therapeutic daycare operated by Beit Issie Shapiro, explained that the current funding forces compromises in basic care. Young professionals often leave for better-paying private or HMO jobs, resulting in less stability and continuity for the children. The state argued in court that these funding disparities reflect budgetary priorities and that the judiciary should not intervene in such decisions. This stance effectively acknowledges the gap as a deliberate choice rather than an oversight.
Amir Lerner, CEO of Beit Issie Shapiro, emphasized that behind the numbers are toddlers waiting for speech therapists who may leave for better pay, and caregivers repeatedly briefing new staff instead of providing continuous treatment. The court's hesitation to intervene highlights the limits of legal remedies when budget priorities are at stake. Lerner called for a broader public campaign uniting organizations, professionals, parents, and policymakers to demand full implementation and funding of the Therapeutic Daycare Law, ensuring the state fulfills its commitments to vulnerable children.
