Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month Program Guide #JDAIM17 @INCLUSININNOVA Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD Inclusion Innovations shelly@inclusioninnovations.com 2017 All Rights Reserved Please use the Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month logo on all of your communications & events.
Copyright 2017, Shelly Christensen and Inclusion Innovations Permission to use materials in the JDAIM 2017 Guide is granted for the use by organizations worldwide to foster inclusion of people with disabilities in community life. Written by Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD Graphic and Web Design by Jessica Chavez, JC Designs Minneapolis, MN
Table of Contents A Call to Action: Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month ----------------------- 1 Why is JDAIM in February? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 What is Inclusion? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Plan For Impact -- Getting Started ------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 Great Ideas for Inspiring JDAIM Programs in Your Synagogue ------------------------------ 5 JDAIM in the Sanctuary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Inclusion for All Organizations ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 JDAIM Events in Your Community ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 Communicate Inclusion and Social Media -------------------------------------------------------- 9 JDAIM Reads Book Club Selections for 2017 ---------------------------------------------------- 10 JDAIM Film for 2017: My Hero Brother ------------------------------------------------------------ 12 Jewish Disability Advocacy Day ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Resources for JDAIM and Beyond ------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 Make the Commitment to Inclusion ---------------------------------------------------------------- 19
A Call to Action! Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is a unified effort among Jewish organizations and communities worldwide to raise awareness and foster inclusion of people with disabilities and those who love them. JDAIM is a call to action to each one of us in accordance with our Jewish values, honoring the gifts and strengths that we each possess. Established in 2009 by the Jewish Special Education International Consortium, JDAIM is observed each February. The Mission of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month* The mission of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month is to unite Jewish communities worldwide to raise awareness and champion the rights of all Jews to be included and to participate in all aspects of Jewish life like anyone else. Why You Should Participate in JDAIM Raise awareness of how people with disabilities have been regarded by Jewish and secular society and how that impacts our actions in our own lives. Underscore the importance of choosing one s own Jewish journey. Encourage Jews around the world to become genuinely empathetic and welcoming toward people with disabilities. Urge Jews to welcome people with disabilities into their communities and personal lives. Include people with disabilities in ALL aspects of communal life. Advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Support people with disabilities to make their own decisions about how they want to belong to their Jewish community. 1
Why is JDAIM in February? In May 2008 the Jewish Special Education International Consortium held its annual Colloquium in Minneapolis, MN. Two members, Lenore Layman, of the Partnership of Jewish Life and Living in Washington, DC, and Shelly Christensen, of the Jewish Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities at Jewish Family and Children s Service in Minneapolis presented the idea of selecting a specific month in which all of our communities, far and wide, would hold conferences, events and community wide programming. Lenore and Shelly thought that if we all came together during one month we could raise awareness to a broader extent as well as share resources and ideas for programs. All the members thought this made tremendous sense. What would be a good month? they asked. The members looked through the calendar and concluded that a month that doesn t follow or precede the High Holidays, Pesach, Shavuot, the start or end of the school year, or summer would work. February seemed to be the best option, and that is why JDAIM is recognized every February. But the truth is, while JDAIM brings the issues of disability inclusion to the forefront, inclusion is something that we must keep focused on the rest of the year. The JDAIM Ribbon Logo* The blue and gold intertwined ribbon that forms the Magen David was created for the second Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month in 2010. Seeking a logo that could link communities and create visual awareness about JDAIM, Shelly Christensen asked graphic designer Janice Goldstein, of JFCS, to create a design that would signify how inclusion is woven into every single aspect of Jewish life and community. The logo is available for free download at www.jdaim.org. Please use the logo* in all JDAIM events and programs. *The logo is the trademark of Inclusion Innovations. Please use it freely and share. 2
What is Inclusion? A human being mints many coins from the same mold but the Holy One, Blessed be God, strikes us all from the mold of the first human and each one of us is unique. Therefore every single person is obligated to say The world was created for my sake." (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5) The relationship between Judaism and disability goes back to Torah. Our greatest leader, Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses, told God that he he couldn t fulfill his leadership role because he had a speech disability. God saw Moses leadership potential and appointed Aaron as the first known reasonable accommodation so Moses could speak to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt to freedom. Having a disability is not, and should never be a reason to exclude someone from meaningful participation and contribution to this wonderful place we call The Jewish Community. Everyone has gifts to share as well as needs for comfort and community. Inclusion is the opportunity for every person to participate in meaningful ways in the life of the Jewish community. How do we know what is meaningful and important to another person? We open our doors, we ask, listen and we take the journey together. We do not do things for people with disabilities. We do things with people with disabilities. JDAIM is a time to teach our communities that Inclusion (with a capitol I) is simply treating people as individuals, not as a group of those people whose needs can be met through special programs or occasional visits to synagogues. Just like you, people with disabilities can and should make decisions about how they participate in Jewish life. Recognizing Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month is only the first step. What your organization does in the next eleven months will determine your commitment to ensuring that all people feel that they belong. The JDAIM Resource Guide is full of ideas to make inclusion a priority. There are two JDAIM Reads! Book Club selections and discussion guides written by the authors and a powerful new film, My Hero Brother, by noted Israeli director Yonaton Nir, along with ideas to build momentum from JDAIM for the rest of the year! Finally, at the end of this guide you ll find a commitment form that you can share with your organizational leaders and members. It s up to each one of us to achieve Inclusion! Warmest regards, Shelly Christensen, MA, Co-Founder of JDAIM shelly@inclusioninnovations.com www.inclusioninnovations.com 3
Plan for Impact - Getting Started You need a planning group, goals for JDAIM, and activities that will help achieve those goals. Establish a planning group for JDAIM including: People who have disabilities Your inclusion committee or disability task force Representatives from several committees including education, adult education, ritual, membership, sisterhood, brotherhood and youth. Clergy and professional staff Establish goals for JDAIM. At the end of February what will you have accomplished? Brainstorm activities that will help you achieve your goals. Ask yourselves how will this activity impact inclusion in this particular area of organizational life? It s important to know this because you will be setting the expectation that there will be something AFTER JDAIM. Promote JDAIM. Use the JDAIM logo in all your communications. It s free. Use traditional media plus social media. Use #JDAIM17 to share on Twitter and Facebook! Extend personal invitations to people who may be on the margins of the community. Display a banner or placard in your lobby announcing Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month. (Yes, you can use the logo!) 4
Great Ideas for Inspiring JDAIM Progams in Your Synagogue The Torah portions during JDAIM are rich with study material. Include study of the text at committee and board meetings, Torah study and religious school sessions. Discussions can be robust, eye-opening and very powerful. Start a JDAIM Reads Book Club and read one or both of the great 2017 selections. All selections since 2012 are listed on our website www.jdaim.org Invite people from group homes or Jewish programs for adults with disabilities to services. Make the service accessible. Most important, greet and welcome them. Sit with them. Talk with them. Remember Abraham and Sarah welcoming the strangers. Think about inviting them to services the rest of the year. JDAIM isn t just a Taste of Judaism! Holidays! Depending on the calendar Tu B shevat or Purim fall during JDAIM. There s a seder in that or a Purim spiel. Use your creativity. Host a congregational Shabbat dinner to kick-off Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month. Invite all members of your congregation, as well as other members of the Jewish community to join you. Put requests for accommodations on the invitation. If someone requests that food be cut for them, do that in the kitchen, not in the dining area. Continue the Shabbat celebration with a unique Erev Shabbat service recognizing that we are all created in the Divine Image B zelem Elohim. Host a congregational Havdallah service with activities. Advertise this to your entire community, and encourage people with disabilities and their families to attend. The music and the scents of Havdallah provide a beautiful setting for art activities, games and stories. Integrate Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month into other activities: The youth group can provide afternoon activities for children with disabilities so parents and siblings have time together. The Men s Club or Brotherhood can sponsor a breakfast and invite a speaker from the community to talk about disability services (such as training service dogs). Coordinate a program for parents of children with disabilities to bring them together and minimize isolation. Invite a speaker from Jewish Family Services to lead a parent education group. Provide childcare. Organize a program for siblings, such as SibShops, or invite a family life educator to come talk about sibling needs. Your religious school can have age appropriate programming for students focused on the concept of B zelem Elohim we are created in the Divine Image. Read books and stories written about children with a diverse range of abilities. Prepare teachers to try a different teaching strategy to engage all learners. Invite parents of students who have disabilities to come to class and share their family s story. Be responsive to concerns expressed by people with disabilities and their families. Is there something that would be appropriate to address with programming during the month? This is a time for your organization to do some self-examination and self-discovery. 5
JDAIM in the Sanctuary Give the sermon on Inclusion. Engage the congregation in a discussion. Guide tours of the sanctuary to people who are new or visiting so they can become familiar and feel more comfortable. They can see and touch ritual items, stand on the bimah, hold the Torah, and find a seat where they will be comfortable sitting. Familiarity can help ease some anxiety about a new situation. Announce page numbers often. Describe the prayer book and commentary by color and size, in addition to name. Ask people with disabilities ahead of time to participate in rituals and prayers during the service. Honor them by being called to the Torah and help them practice the blessings. Ask people with disabilities and their family members to give the d var Torah, carry the Torah for hakafah, light Shabbat candles and say the Kiddush. If your bimah is not accessible, move the reading desk to the main level of the sanctuary so the Torah itself is accessible to all. Train ushers to welcome and seat people with disabilities. Make sure they know where working assistive listening devices and large print prayer books are located. Have a congregational discussion during services on ways the synagogue can support life cycle events for people with disabilities. Encourage families to hold their bar/bat mitzvah ceremony for a child with a disability at Shabbat morning services, or as is customary at your synagogue so that your congregation can attend. During this month, engage in conversations about inclusion in Torah study and sermons. Extend the discussion to your board and committee meetings. Use social media to promote inclusion. Post about your events, quote text that resonates with Jewish values about inclusion. Create and post a short YouTube Torah commentary about inclusion. #JDAIM17 is the hashtag we use in social media. Provide prayer books and Torah commentaries in accessible format (i.e. Braille, large print, audio versions). Make your worship service accessible to people who have diverse sensory needs, such as sign language interpretation (set seats aside so those worshipers can see the interpreter clearly) and a picture schedule of the service order. Include the start and stop time of services, the prayer order and the location of restrooms and drinking fountains in your service handout. Start each service with the opportunity for congregants to turn to their neighbors and introduce themselves. Make sure that every person has someone with whom to share this greeting. Lunch and Learn following Shabbat morning services or on Sunday afternoon brings people together to process what they have learned and experienced. 6
Inclusion for All Organizations JDAIM is an opportunity to join Jewish communities to begin the journey toward becoming a place where all Jews belong. Here are effective and low-cost ways to proceed after JDAIM to continue building the momentum! Have you started an inclusion committee? Ask yourself who is going to shepherd your organization in this important work? In addition to planning JDAIM activities, the Inclusion Committee can continue to guide your congregation. During JDAIM, let people know that the Inclusion Committee is seeking new members. (Inclusion Committees are the best way to engage lay and professional leadership in a long-term inclusion plan). Include people with disabilities on the inclusion committee--nothing about us without us! Identify barriers to participation within your organization. Examine: Architectural barriers Communication barriers Attitudinal barriers Evaluate all program areas to identify barriers to inclusion. Use these evaluations to set priorities and goals for inclusion in your organization. Review the organizational mission statement to determine if, or what, it says about inclusion. Promote Inclusion every time you advertise an organizational event or program. include an accessibility statement on all of your printed materials, on your website and social media by informing people to contact you should they require an accommodation in order to participate. Study halacha on the placement of mezuzot and if possible, move them so that people who use wheelchairs as well as children can reach them. Start an Inclusion or Accessibility fund to help provide money for accommodations and modifications and accessible transportation to youth group events. Write a column for your website, bulletins and newsletters on different aspects of inclusion in your organization. Use language that promotes respect and dignity. For example, Sam is not handicapped or disabled. Sam is a person with a disability. Using Person First language is respectful and does not define a person by their disability, rather, having a disability is just one aspect of who they are. Some people prefer Identity-First language (autistic rather than has autism). Best rule of thumb identify people by their names, not by their disability label. Are people with disabilities on your board? On your staff? Examine practices for hiring and leadership development. 7
JDAIM Events In Your Community Make the commitment. Share the Commitment to Inclusion on the last page of this guide at all of your events and invite people to fill it out. Hold a community-wide event inviting everyone to support inclusion of people with disabilities: Start a JDAIM Reads Book Club and read one or both of the great 2017 selections. All selections since 2012 are listed in this Guide. Film screenings of the JDAIM Feature Film, My Hero Brother, for your entire community raise awareness and help people understand more about inclusion. Follow with a panel discussion featuring people with disabilities, family members and disability experts. Ask each organization in your community to contribute a small amount of funding to defray costs for film rentals, speakers and food. Recognize every organization that contributes in some way to the community effort in your program, on your website and at the actual event. Encourage your community to like the JDAIM Facebook page, publicize webinars and online videos that are relevant. Partner with your local Arc, parent training center, governors council on disabilities or disability organization to sponsor specific topics that appeal to the community. Create a community calendar of events that are open to the public. Publicize all of the Jewish organizations that welcome and support people with disabilities and their families including housing, recreation, vocational and educational with links to those organizations. Offer training to building committee chairs and staff on the Americans with Disabilities Act and what to look for to provide accessible spaces. Offer training to congregations and organizations on how to become more inclusive and accessible, how to start an Inclusion Committee and begin an inclusion initiative. Distribute press releases about JDAIM and programs to local media. Gather representatives from every Jewish organization to convene an inclusion roundtable that will meet regularly after JDAIM to discuss the needs and work toward building capacity in the community. Publish a list of resources and promote on your community website and individual websites. Remember that you are recognizing JDAIM to encourage and promote inclusive practices all year long. Choose a theme such as Person First or Created B tzelem Elohim and live it through teaching and actions. Identify Jewish values that enhance understanding. 8
Promote #JDAIM17 on your Facebook page, Twitter feed, Instagram and any other social media you use!! " $ Communicate Inclusion Invite people with disabilities to attend worship services, programs and events by including an accessibility statement in all of your publications. Your website, bulletins, weekly service programs, invitations to events and notices about programs should clearly state that your institution is accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals needing accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact at 222-222-2222 no later than. (name) (deadline if appropriate) 9
JDAIM Reads! Book Club 2017 Ketchup is My Favorite Vegetable: A Family Grows Up with Autism Liane Kupferberg Carter How do you create an ordinary family life while dealing with the extraordinary needs of an autistic child? Meet Mickey - charming, funny, compassionate, and autistic. In this unflinching memoir, Liane delivers a mother's insight into what really goes on in the two decades after diagnosis. If you ve ever wondered how families adapt and adjust to a diagnosis of autism or any other disability, you must read Liane s masterfully written, open-hearted account. You will never look at parenting any child the same way. Liane Carter's lovingly written memoir should be required reading for every parent raising a child with autism, particularly those who have been told "your child will never...", because, Wow! does her son Mickey ever! Liane's journey, for better AND for worse, brings hope to our entire community. Alison Singer, President of the Autism Science Foundation Liane Kupferberg Carter is a nationally-known writer and advocate in the autism community who currently lives in New York with her husband and two sons. She writes for the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and the Huffington Post blog, and was a staff writer for Autism After 16. Liane is a co-author of the Autism Speaks Advocacy Tool Kit. She is a board member of Matan. Ketchup is My Favorite Vegetable is also a 2017 selection of the Jewish Book Council. Liane is delighted to speak to your community via Skype Contact: liane.k.carter@gmail.com 10
JDAIM Reads! Book Club 2017 The Little Gate Crasher: The Life and Photos of Mace Bugen Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer The Little Gate Crasher is a memoir of Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer s amazing great uncle Mace Bugen--an unstoppable spirit, first generation Jewish American, self-made millionaire, and celebrity gate-crasher--who was 43 inches tall. Mace's unstoppable spirit defied the challenges of his own physical limitations and society's prejudices towards people with dwarfism. Many begin their journeys by saying, 'Why me?' But healing begins when they say, 'Okay, what now?' Part history and part biography, The Little Gate-Crasher is inspirational and damn fun to read. Dr. Dan Gottlieb of NPR's "Voices in the Family" Gabrielle Kaplan-mayer is a writer and educator based in Philadelphia. She is pleased to share the release of The Little Gate Crasher, a memoir of her truly extraordinary great uncle, Mace Bugen. Other recent books include The Creative Jewish Wedding Book and The Kitchen Classroom. Gabby is a featured blogger for Newsworks Philly Parenting and writes for and edits The New Normal: Blogging Disability. As director of Whole Community Inclusion at Jewish Learning Venture, she leads disability awareness training across the Philadelphia Jewish Community. She has also been an educator at congregation Mishkan Shalom in Roxborough for 18 years. Gabrielle is delighted to speak to your community via Skype. Contact: gabriellekm@gmail.com 11
NEW Feature Film for JDAIM 2017! My Hero Brother tells the remarkable story of a group of young people with Down syndrome that embark on a demanding trek through the Indian Himalayas, accompanied by their brothers and sisters. As the siblings deal with formidable physical and emotional challenges, unresolved conflicts come to surface and heart-warming friendships develop. The difficult trails and poignant relationships, set against the richly colorful backdrop of India, open new horizons and greatly deepen the viewer s understanding of people with disabilities and their families. View the trailer here! Contact My Hero Brother directly to learn more about special screenings for JDAIM 2017. Contact: office@myherobrother.org Website: www.myherobrother.org Award-winning director Yonatan Nir of My Hero Brother and Dolphin Boy will be on a U.S. film festival tour during January-February 2017 and is available for screenings and speaking sessions. 12
Save the Date - February 2, 2017! Join Us in Washington DC Jewish Disability Advocacy Day JDAD is an opportunity for professionals and lay leaders from Jewish organizations and communities to come to Capitol Hill and advocate on behalf of and with individuals with disabilities. It also allows them to learn about relevant public policy issues and to raise awareness about different social service programs for people with disabilities and their families. It is our hope that JDAD will also demonstrate the fact that disability issues are of utmost importance to the Jewish community. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) and the Jewish Federations of North America (as the co-chairs of the Jewish Disability Network, a coalition of over two dozen Jewish organizations advocating for disability rights) plan the annual Jewish Disability Advocacy Day (JDAD) to coincide with JDAIM. An action packed day of learning about critical disability issues, networking and meeting with Congressional representatives brings Jewish organizations together as one voice. Click here to learn more about the 2017 JDAD and join Jews from across the United States in this important work. View a short video created by the RAC about JDAD 15. Read a blog from the Ruderman Family Foundation about JDAD16 Read a news story from Chabad.org about the White House Convening for Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month 2016 13
Resources for JDAIM Beyond Judaism and Disability Books Belser, Julia Watts. Guide to Jewish Values and Disability Rights - Jewish Funders Network. Christensen, Shelly. Jewish Community Guide to Inclusion of People with Disabilities Available at www.inclusioninnovations.com Eidelman, Steven, ed. A Guide to Funding Disabilities and Special Needs - Jewish Funders Network. Gaventa, William - Jewish Perspectives on Theology and the Human Experience of Disability. Levin, Jeff and Prince, Michele. Judaism and Health: A Handbook of Practical, Professional and Scholarly Resources. Jewish Lights. Pinsky, Mark I. Amazing Gifts: Stories of Faith, Disability and Inclusion - Alban Institute. Simon,Sara Rubinow, Forrest, Linda & Fishman, Ellen, eds.v'khol Banayikh: Jewish Education for All, eds. Available here. Jewish Organization Resources Hineinu. Hineinu: Jewish Community for People of All Abilities, the latest initiative in its goal of bringing full Inclusion in Jewish life to those with disabilities. Hineinu ( We are here ) is the first-ever formal combination of human rights and disability professionals from each of the religious streams, sharing resources, support and direction in order to increase disability Inclusion in our synagogues for people of all abilities. Each organization worked together to create the Hineinu Guide which can be found on the respective websites. Chabad. The Ruderman-Chabad Inclusion Initiative (RCII) is dedicated to building on the philosophy and mission of Chabad Lubavitch by providing Chabad communities around the globe the education and resources they need to advance inclusion of people with disabilities. RCII engages Chabad s network of human and educational resources to cr Free Resources. Jewish Reconstructionist Communities. JRC features a variety of text and parshiot commentaries developed to use during JDAIM. From the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College a short course on disability inclusion with video sessions with Rabbis Judith Abramson, Evan Jaffe and Dan Grossman Orthodox Union/Yachad. North American Inclusion Month (NAIM) occurs every February focusing on the abilities and talents of individuals with disabilities. Sponsored by Yachad, communities and schools are engaged in concrete ways to include all members of their Jewish community activities and services. Resources are shared with synagogues and temples about strategies to make their environments and ideology inclusive. Examples are supplying members with visual impairments 14
magnifying strips to help them read their siddurim or clip bookmarks to hold the place in their prayer books so that they are able to follow services. Schools participate in workshops and book clubs to help students understand disabilities. Working hand in hand with JDAIM, Yachad believes that we help the entire Jewish community grow and strengthen by enabling all individuals to be equal partners in Klal Yisroel. Union for Reform Judaism Developed in partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation, the Disabilities Inclusion Learning Center is an open resource for all to use. The website is a comprehensive source for information, resources, and webinars. URJ congregations that have excelled in one or more areas of inclusive practice. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, United Synagogue has launched an initiative to transform Conservative congregations into truly inclusive communities for people with disabilities. The Ruderman Inclusion Action Community of 16 synagogues is advancing inclusion in congregations across North America. USCJ also has resources available online here. Leadership on Inclusion Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion. At the Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion Jewish community leaders acquire the necessary skills, knowledge and vision to effectively lead innovative capacity building strategies and practices through which all people with disabilities can fully participate in Jewish community life and lead self-directed quality lives. The partnership between the Ruderman Family Foundation and the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware was founded in 2013. The Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion is the result of the growing needs expressed by Jewish people with disabilities and their families to engage in personally meaningful Jewish life. Leadership development has long been regarded as a key component in successfully creating change. Join the Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion faculty and graduates for live and archived webinars. 15
Free Resources This list was created to inspire you to do your own search for resources and is not exhaustive. Gateways provides free resources for Shabbat and Jewish holidays on their website. Also check out the beautiful accessible Haggadah. PJ Library provides quality educational resources for many of the featured book including, Nathan Blows Out the Hanukah Candles and The Mitten String. The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has a number of different activities and JDAIM resources to promote and foster inclusion. JDAIM Pin The Small Change Company offers a beautiful pin to commemorate JDAIM and inclusion. To learn more about the pin and to order, contact www.smallchangecompany.com. Pins can be ordered individually or they can be ordered in larger quantities for fundraising opportunities and gifts at a special price. 16
Activities There are many different ways to raise awareness. Click here for more ideas to inspire and motivate your organization. We ve included some of our favorite awareness raising activities here with special thanks to the Federation of Greater Washington DC and Lisa Handelman. Title Created by Intended Audience Materials Program Four Corners Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion This activity was used with professionals at the 2015 Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion but can be adapted for a wide variety of audiences. Flip chart paper (16 sheets, either Post-It or tape to the walls) Markers Post the statements individually around the room; they are to be considered one at a time. Ask the participants a question; place the four statements/answers separately around the room. Ask participants to find the statement that resonates with them the most and have them go to that corner. Once everyone has gone to a corner, ask each group to discuss the statement and put their responses on the flip chart paper. Have them share with the larger group. Question 1: Why should inclusion for people with disabilities be a priority? Diversity of Community We are created B tzelem Elohim. Personal Health and Wellness Consistent with human rights Question 2: What are the major barriers to inclusion within the Jewish community? It is not a high priority. Not enough money and resources to support it well. People in the community are not ready. People w/disabilities are better off with and/or prefer specialized services. Question 3: The most impactful thing I can do to promote inclusion is Meet with others to find allies. Make plans to change or close segregated services. Focus on my own active leadership. Engage the management team or board of directors. Question 4: Specifically, the next steps my agency or congregations should take are Make physical improvements to our site. Increase Awareness of this issue to our general population. Actively recruit and engage individuals with disabilities. As an organization, examine barriers and study how to diminish them. 17
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Make the Commitment to Inclusion All Israel is Responsible for One Another "Good intentions alone without action are without value for it is the action, which makes the intentions so profound." The Great Chassidic Master HaYehudi Hakadosh Complete this form with your good intentions and the actions to achieve meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities. Ideas that will turn my good intentions into action are: 1. 2. 3. I commit to take these actions: 1. 2. 3. I will invite the following people to join me: How do I think this will impact the lives of people with disabilities in my own community or organization? Dated: Thank you for joining us to ensure that people with disabilities and their families find warmth and welcoming waiting for them. 19