Founded in 1969 by the late Devora Schick, a Holocaust survivor, in memory of her own son with disabilities, Beit Uri is located in Israel’s northern Jezreel Valley in a unique village that is home to over one hundred children, youth and adults with special needs, and another 100 staff member’s work in the community. Based on the Anthroposophic philosophy of Rudolph Steiner, the Beit Uri approach to care reflects the Steiner emphasis on the impact that a warm, nurturing and creative environment can have on the individual, no matter his/her abilities. Residents of all abilities – sensory and behavioral challenges, cognitive and physical disabilities as well as those with ASD – all thrive thanks to the education, attention and varied activities provided in the village. The green, spacious setting of Beit Uri accommodates residential buildings, a school for ages 6-21, employment settings that include 11 arts and crafts workshops, a bakery and a café-gallery that are both open to the surrounding communities. Beit Uri is a registered Israeli non-profit steered by a Board of Trustees and funded primarily by the Israeli Ministries of Welfare and Education, as well as foundations, corporations and private donors. Awards Beit Uri founder, Devorah Schick was the recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Protector of Children’s Rights in 1999, for her lifetime’s commitment to creating a home for adults with disabilities. In 2001, Beit Uri residents themselves received a Ministry of Environment Award for their outstanding work in caring for the park and forest surrounding the community. Following her death in November 2002 at the age of 94, Ms. Schick was posthumously awarded the Zusman-JDC Prize for excellence in services for people with disabilities by the President of the State of Israel. In 2009, Beit Uri received the Council of Beautiful Israel Award and in 2010 Beit Uri was recognized by the City of Afula for its contribution to the city and its surroundings. .