Matan Koch, Vice President for Workforce, Leadership, and Faith Programs at RespectAbility, hosted emerging Jewish talent and debuted RespectAbility’s Jewish Disability Inclusion Toolkit at the Rising Stars event. Award-winning poet Erika Abbott read a lovely poem, included below, that conveys the theme of JDAIM, and Aaron Seglin sang an original composition. Erika, Aaron, Justin Borses, and Ava Rigelhaupt engaged in a vibrant panel discussion about what Jewish disability inclusion means to them, how Judaism and disability influence their art, and their multifaceted identities. The new Jewish Disability Inclusion Toolkit, released at the event, is a free and valuable resource for all to employ.
(Note: A version of this recording with open captions will be posted by Monday.)
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Founder of RespectAbility, met with leaders at Tamir to discuss disability inclusion for Jewish community professionals. As explained by Jodi Green, Tamir’s Coordinator of Judaic Outreach and Inclusion, “for nearly 40 years, Tamir has supported people with developmental disabilities and people with autism to live their best life by promoting individuality, independence, dignity, and community inclusion, while embracing Jewish culture and values.” Jennifer shared ten tips to improve disability inclusion and a plethora of resources, including RespectAbility’s new Jewish Disability Inclusion Toolkit. In addition, the group discussed the difficult balance Jewish organizations face between solely serving the Jewish community and maximizing tikkun olam through intersectionality, and the challenges COVID posed to running vocational training programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
(Note: A version of this recording with open captions will be posted by Monday.)
United Jewish Federation of Utah and Utah Women’s Philanthropy hosted Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Founder of RespectAbility, for a conversation on Jewish disability inclusion. Mizrahi presented ten practical disability inclusion tips for Jewish organizations and shared valuable resources for further learning. During the dynamic Q&A session, the group discussed disability inclusion in religious schools, inclusion vs. integration, disability representation in the entertainment industry, and personal disability-related stories.
Erika Abbott’s JDAIM Poem
My
Jewish
Education
Started
At
3.5
Years
Old
With
Names
Like
Golde
Meir
My
Grandmother
Made
Sure
That
I
Was
“Woke”
To
Israel
And
Her
Enemies
My
Jewish
Education
Continued
To
Flourish
Through
Stories
Around
The
Dinner
Table
Is
Anyone
At
Temple
Shocked
At
Your
Disability
No
I
Am
Not
Your
Mitzvah
The
Object
Of
Your
Haskivenu
I
Am
My
Own
Moses
