In my five years as Executive Director of JLA Trust & Services, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that helps Jewish and non-Jewish adults with a range of disabilities enjoy a high quality of life with affordable pooled special needs trusts, I have noticed one clear determinant of wellness and happiness for our clients. Is there a [click to continue...]
Have you encountered an autistic student in your synagogue or religious school classroom? Have you wanted to interact with this student, but were unsure how to? These questions can be answered in many ways, but it requires collaboration between the students, parents, educators, and administration. Acceptance from classmates and the congregation as a whole is [click to continue...]
Shalom Institute creates an accessible and welcoming community for all backgrounds, abilities and walks-of-life to develop deep relationships and grow physically and emotionally through our overnight camps, year-round retreats, nature education, holiday, and community experiences, all of which are grounded in Jewish values. We intentionally foster an inclusive community. The two programs for which we [click to continue...]
The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) is the umbrella organization for 146 Jewish Federations and more than 300 independent Jewish communities across North America. Each Federation supports a number of service providers, such as nonprofit hospitals, nursing and assisted living facilities, group homes, family service agencies, and vocational training organizations–programs that, taken together, provide [click to continue...]
“Keshet is a one-of-a-kind organization that brings classroom experience, camps, sports, social and vocational activities, and residential opportunities. One of a few organizations in the country where a child can start programs and the age of 3 and continue throughout adulthood. Keshet grows alongside your child and family. Keshet is a national leader in inclusive summer camp. We [click to continue...]
“AJC Los Angeles is the largest field office of American Jewish Committee, the leading global Jewish advocacy organization. AJC LA serves Jewish communities across Southern California and several western states. AJC LA connects local communities with its global mission to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate, strengthen Israel’s place in the world, and defend [click to continue...]
Ignacio Estrada, the educational consultant and motivator, once said: “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” The Torah put it even more forcefully, “train a youth in his own way, he will not swerve from it even in old age.” (Proverbs 22:6) In 2015, Athena [click to continue...]
The mission of Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles is to assist youth in reaching their full potential through innovative, impactful programs. For over 100 years, JBBBSLA has been offering one-to-one mentoring for Jewish youth who could benefit from an additional positive adult role model. In addition, JBBBSLA offers a Jewish and secular [click to continue...]
“The Jack and Shirley Silver Center for Special Needs builds and nurtures an inclusive and accepting community where individuals with disabilities and their families have opportunities to make meaningful connections to each other and their communities. We serve as a catalyst and leader for transforming the ways in which the community at large understands and [click to continue...]
“The Jewish Los Angeles Special Needs Trust (JLA Trust) provides professional trustee services to people with physical, mental, cognitive, and developmental disabilities with affordable pooled special needs trusts so beneficiaries of legal settlements and inheritances do not lose their essential government benefits. Our person-centered services support people surviving on these benefits (often SSI and/or Medi-Cal), [click to continue...]
