BJE and Chai Lifeline organization administrate a technology-based communications program linking hospitalized and homebound children with their schools, tutors, families, and/or friends.

The program uses video telephones, the Internet and other technology to provide children with cancer and/or other critical illness the opportunity to maintain ongoing education, remedial, and social activities. The technology prevents the loss of an academic school year while the child is recuperating from a bone marrow transplant or other forms of treatment. From the hospital room or bed at home, the child is in sight and sound of the classroom where he/she can fully participate in school activities.

The program also maximizes the use of tutors for homebound children. Instead of working with three to four students a day and having to spend substantial time in traveling, the homebound teacher can double his/her tutoring load without moving from his chair.

The motto of the program is, "Your classroom is only as far away as your telephone". The videophones can be attached to large TV monitors as well as camcorders for varied educational use.

To date, close to 50 youngsters have benefited from the program. Three years ago, the program was the subject of a Ch. 12 Long Island Cable News report.