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Training: “How to Ensure Accessible Events: Both Live and Virtual Across All Platforms”

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Making your event accessible is easier than you think. This session gave a simple accessibility checklist, as well as the processes and confidence that you need to make all of your events accessible, both virtual, and in person!

Panelists Include

  • Moderator: Dori Kirshner – Matan
  • Rebecca Wanatick – Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ
  • Lauren Appelbaum – RespectAbility Vice President, Communications

Speaker Bios

Dori Kirshner headshot smilingDori Kirshner has served as Matan’s Exectuive Director since 2009. Under Dori’s leadership, Matan has shifted from a purely direct service organization to one which significantly impacts the field of Jewish disability inclusion by training current and future leaders in a multitude of settings and by conducting capacity-building community consultations across North America. Dori believes that 85% of what we do as a Jewish community vis a vis inclusion can be summed up in one word: Attitude. With an open heart, open mind, and a willingness to partner with parents and other professionals, we can all be part of the solution of making inclusion a normative reality. Prior to coming to Matan, Dori worked at The UJA-Federation of New York for seven years, in both planning and fundraising capacities. Dori began her professional career at The Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan as a bi-lingual educator (Hebrew and English). Dori holds a Masters of Arts in Education from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America and a BA in Sociology and Judaic Studies from Emory University. Dori is a sought-after national speaker on the issue of Jewish inclusion, and has published articles and Op-Ed’s in publications including The New York Jewish Week and ejewishphilanthropy.

Rebecca Wanatick headshot smilingRebecca Wanatick received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Boston University and a Bachelor’s Degree in both Elementary and Special Education from University of Hartford. She has been engaged in the field of special education since she was old enough to volunteer her time; she has held roles as an educator, camp division head and inclusion coordinator. Rebecca is presently employed by Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, in her 12th year as the Manager of Community Inclusion. She staffs the agency’s department, Greater MetroWest ABLE (Access, Belonging and Life Enrichment for People with Disabilities and Their Families), engaging families, synagogues and agencies in the Greater MetroWest community in creating a community that is accessible to all members. Greater MetroWest ABLE envisions a community made whole through the active and meaningful participation of all of its members, with opportunities for access to every aspect of Jewish life. As Manager of Community Inclusion, Rebecca serves as a facilitator between the families and Greater MetroWest support agencies, helping to make connections and raise the level of inclusive programming, community-wide. She coordinates both family and educator workshops, advocate training for teens, babysitting training programs for teens interested in working with children with disabilities, engages with synagogue inclusion committees, and provides outreach and advocacy resources for individuals with disabilities and their families in the community.

head shot of Lauren wearing an orange blazer, smiling and facing the camera color photoLauren Appelbaum is the Vice President, Communications, at RespectAbility. She brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic and crisis communications, writing, video and web production, news gathering and social media to the disability agenda. Previously she was a digital researcher with the NBC News political unit, where she worked with Chuck Todd and Andrea Mitchell. Read more about Lauren Appelbaum.

Partners/Co-Promoters

AvodahB’nai David-Judea CongregationBuilders of Jewish Education: JKidLACongregation B’nai AmoonaCongregation B’nai Emet, Congregation Kol AmiCongregation Or AmiEdlavitch DCJCCFoundation for Jewish CampGateways: Access to Jewish EducationHebrew Union CollegeIKARInstitute on Theology and DisabilityJewish Federations of North AmericaJewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ – Greater MetroWest ABLEJewish Los Angeles Special Needs Trust and ServicesJewish Residential ServicesJQ International, JVS SoCal, Jewish Women International (JWI)Keshet: For LGBTQ equality in Jewish life, Keshet Chicago, Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living TorahMarlene Meyerson JCC ManhattanMatan, Moment Magazine, National Ramah Tikvah Network, Ohr HaTorah Synagogue, OurSpace LA, Reconstructing JudaismReligious Action Center of Reform JudaismROSIES FoundationShalhevet, Shalom InstituteStephen Wise TempleTemple Adat Elohim, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human RightsThe Jewish JournalThe Miracle ProjectThe New NormalThe Women’s Rabbinic NetworkUnion for Reform Judaism, USCJWhole Community Inclusion at Jewish Learning VentureYachad Los AngelesYeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School

This series is made possible by support from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles through a Cutting Edge Grant, The Diane & Guilford Glazer Philanthropies, The David Berg Foundation, the Stanford and Joan Alexander Foundation, Stanley & Joyce Black Family Foundation, and The Beverly Foundation.

Meet the Author

Eric Ascher

Eric Ascher is the Communications Associate for RespectAbility. He is responsible for supporting RespectAbility’s Vice President, Communications in developing and implementing advocacy efforts and communications of various types. Ascher manages RespectAbility’s social media channels, website and emails; organizes and develops webinars; and supervises Communications Fellows.

1 comment… add one
  • Susan Rosenthal Jul 15, 2020, 11:27 am

    I was advised that this program is being reshown on July 21st. If so, I would like to register for it. thank you.

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