Many of us spend time leading up to the high holidays helping congregations and organizations prepare to fully respectfully welcome Jews with disabilities into our communities and rituals. Most of the training is good, and the organizations are almost always earnest. Hence, we can get really optimistic and expect that everything needed will be implemented. And yet, as much as we are excited about the idea of how inclusive things will be, we must also always be aware that they will not be perfect every time.

When Yom Kippur ends, and people start taking stock of the inclusion efforts at their synagogue for the holidays, there will be stories, probably at every congregation in the world, where inclusion did not happen the way we might have wanted.  There will be mix-ups, misses and unanticipated situations. [continue reading…]

Perhaps the most universal theme in the High Holy Days is what our tradition calls a cheshbon ha-nefesh — the accounting of the soul — that Jews do leading up them.

Many may not use Jewish law as their barometer, but most prepare for a new year with an examination of our past year and our actions. Judaism teaches us that the forgiveness of Yom Kippur depends upon an honest, searching and then sparing self-assessment in the month before Rosh Hashanah: the good, the bad, the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. Whether we think our conduct is judged solely by ourselves, by our society or by God, we all recognize the goal is to be the best versions of ourselves, which we can’t really work on without self-knowledge. [continue reading…]

Washington, D.C., Sept. 26 – When The Real World was launched in 1992, it changed the landscape of television, ushering in the modern era of reality television. Produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, the show continues to focus on a group of people who come from different backgrounds living in a house together, with a different city and a different group of people each season. Twenty-seven years later, the show continues to make an impact. Now streaming for free on Facebook Watch, The Real World has arrived in two new places – Mexico and Bangkok, Thailand. And on both new franchises, disability is represented in an accurate and positive way. [continue reading…]

U.S.-based Exceptional Minds Viewed as a Best Practice for UK Companies to Emulate

Read the full report here

Rockville, Maryland, Sept. 25 – A new survey in the United Kingdom found that 12 percent of individuals working in the animation, VFX and post-production industries identify as having at least one disability. While this is below the national average of 17 percent for working-age people with disabilities, this percentage can and should be celebrated as a beginning benchmark for continued advancement.

Nine percent of the animation, VFX and post-production workforce identified as having at least one neurological condition, with dyslexia being the most common (6.5%), followed by ADHD (2.2%), OCD (1.5%) and Autism (1.3%). Two percent of employees identified as having a physical disability and a further one percent identified with both physical and mental conditions. [continue reading…]

Even though disability representation has improved, Hollywood still has work to do for full inclusion – and recognition – of disability. 

Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 22 – As Hollywood celebrates Emmy season last weekend and tonight, it’s important to highlight the several nominees with disabilities. Including authentic disability in the diversity conversation is important to ensure that Hollywood does not leaves out the largest minority in the U.S., as one-in-four American adults identify as having a disability.

Two highly nominated shows that are best practices for disability inclusion – Born This Way and Special – did not win any of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards that were given out last weekend. But Jane Lynch (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), who is deaf in one ear, and CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, whose main character, played by Rachel Bloom, has depression and anxiety, both took home Emmy Awards.

“Inclusion of people with disabilities must be an intentional effort,” said Lauren Appelbaum, who leads RespectAbility’s Hollywood Inclusion efforts as the organization’s Vice President of Communications and author of The Hollywood Disability Inclusion Toolkit.  “Looking forward to tonight’s ceremony, nominees include actors with disabilities. Yet there is very little disability representation in terms of characters and story lines, especially with actors with disabilities playing characters with disabilities. What we see on screen influences how we act in real life. The entertainment industry has an opportunity to help remove the stigmas that currently exist about interacting with individuals with disabilities.” [continue reading…]

Washington, D.C., September 20 – Motivated by their own experiences, five self-advocates shared their stories of perseverance and success at RespectAbility’s Capitol Hill Summit Event, From Washington to Hollywood and Beyond: The Future of Americans with Disabilities.

“The disability rights movement is at its best when people with disabilities are leaning in at tables among decision-makers and leading in every field. That includes having businesses, nonprofits hire people with disabilities,” said Nicole LeBlanc, who moderated the panel entitled “Success Stories of Self-Advocates.” The panel exemplified this idea as it featured professionals from multiple fields with visible and nonvisible disabilities. The panelists shared personal experiences navigating their disabilities in both their personal and professional lives. [continue reading…]

Moses was the original Jewish political activist and lobbyist. He organized his thoughts and priorities, then went to the top powers to demand action. What’s more, God made it clear the choice of Moses, complete with his speech disability, was intentional, leading many to believe that Moses’ experience as a person with a physical disability was of great value.

Whether you are interested in fighting anti-Semitism, strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship or fighting for better public schools and jobs for people who have disabilities here at home, don’t leave civic engagement to special interest lobbyists. [continue reading…]

Los Angeles, Sept. 18 – In Fort Irwin, Cristian Valle, a double amputee Purple Heart recipient, attempts to confront his past trauma by acting in a hyperrealistic military simulation.

Valle lost one of his legs when a grenade exploded while he was deployed to Iraq. His other leg was eventually amputated as well because of its severe damage. Now living in Southern California with wife and daughters, he always had a desire to act.

In Fort Irwin, the viewer is treated to a glimpse of Valle’s life. On his way to participates in a vivid and visceral military reenactment, Valle stops for gas where a loud backfire from a car startles him, showing viewers that Valle has PTSD from his time in Iraq. He receives a call from his therapist who says he needs to go through this and confront trauma to heal. She reminds him he is not leaving California and no matter how realistic it may feel, it is not Iraq. [continue reading…]

UPDATE: Autism: The Sequel will premiere on HBO on April 28, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET. 

Los Angeles, California, Sept. 18 – In a world where media focuses almost solely on children with Autism, Autism: The Sequel will focus on what it is like to be an autistic young adult.

When Autism: The Musical was released in 2007, scores of young children were being identified as autistic. The original film followed five autistic children from The Miracle Project as they created and performed a live musical performance. Now, 12 years later, these children have become young adults with autism. Autism: The Sequel reconnects with these individuals and their families. Through their stories, viewers see the ways in which the world has changed to accommodate autistic people as well as the ways in which it still has not. [continue reading…]