February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). How can we collaborate to raise awareness and encourage inclusion of people with disabilities and the people who love them?
You can make a difference in your Jewish organization!
Inclusion Innovation, a leader in providing support, guidance, and training for organizations to weave inclusion into every activity, has designed strategies for individuals and faith communities to take initiative in a more inclusive environment. Consider some of these techniques.
In Services:
- Announce page numbers often. Describe the prayer book and commentary by color and size, in addition to name.
- During February, engage in conversations about inclusion in Torah study and sermons. Extend the discussion to your board and committee meetings.
In Organizations:
- Identify barriers to participation within the organization. Examine architectural barriers, communication barriers, attitudinal barriers.
- Write a monthly column for the bulletin on different aspects of inclusion in your congregation.
In Communities:
- Recognize every organization that contributes in some way to the community effort around inclusion, whether on your website or at actual events.
- Encourage your community to like the JDAIM Facebook page, publicize webinars and online videos that are relevant.
Click here to download the full JDAIM 2016 Program Guide.
This Passover you can continue your inclusive efforts at your seder table with Gateways Haggadah: A Seder for the Whole Family. The Gateways Haggadah presents more than 150 picture communication symbols developed by Mayer-Johnson™, the leading creator of symbol-adapted special education materials to assist individuals in overcoming their speech, language, and learning challenges, along with photos of children with and without visible disabilities - just how any Jewish family might look.
Order your copies of The Gateways Haggadah here and sign up for our weekly newsletter to be the first to preview the soon-to-be-released Gateways Shabbat.
