The Idud Program – Nekuda Method: School-based Program for Treatment of Children with ADHD

Idud is a program that aims to provide a holistic service for diagnosis and treatment of children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) within a school setting.

The program was developed by Ashalim, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Jerusalem Education Authority, as part of the implementation of recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee chaired by Prof. Asher Or-Noy. The main components of the program are:

  • Screening of all children in the early elementary grades
  • A comprehensive, coordinated and multi-disciplinary treatment program, in cooperation between the schools and the Child Development Centers
  • Training for educational professionals
  • Workshops to provide families with coping skills and to enhance communication between the families and the teachers.

The Idud program is implemented using the Nekuda method, which is guided by the assumption that a child’s performance is the product of a combination of neurological, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional factors. The method involves working with the child, as well as with parents, educational staff and classmates in order to guide the child toward self-control and self-management and enable successful integration into the school environment.

The Idud program was evaluated in a comprehensive study conducted by the Center for Research on Disabilities at the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute and the Jerusalem Institute of Child Development. The study (ES-26-08) examined the program’s effectiveness in identifying, diagnosing, and treating the children’s behavioral symptoms and in furthering the children academically and socially. The study also examined the implementation of the program, in order to provide feedback for its improvement and to provide lessons for effective future dissemination.

The handbook for the implementation of Idud includes an in-depth description of the program and the Nekuda method. The handbook begins with a discussion of ADHD and its ramifications and concludes with a section on the evaluation study of the program. The handbook is a practical tool for educational staff to implement  the  Idud  program  in their schools. It is designed to be  used  by  the  Matyiot  regional  support centers, operated by the Ministry of Education Special Education Division, and by psychological and educational services and municipal education departments, as well as professionals in the health and social services.

The Idud program and the study were supported by Ashalim, the Ministry of Health, the Jerusalem municipality, and the Mandell Berman Fund for Research on Children with Disabilities at the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. The Mandell Berman Fund also supported the publication of this handbook.