https://vimeo.com/681556165 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 [click to continue...]
Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is in full swing, and we have been partnering on some very exciting events. Keep reading for more information on three of them! Members of our Disability Training & Speaker’s Bureau, Erika Abbott and Aaron Wolf, chatted with Rabbi Erez Sherman of Sinai Temple about steps that [click to continue...]
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s mission is “to inspire, build, and sustain vibrant Jewish life in a changing world by mobilizing our community in common purpose, intentional innovation, and effective action.” “As a Jewish organization, we’re driven by Jewish values,” said Monica Herman, the Federation’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Everybody has inherent value, and everyone [click to continue...]
Six years ago, I became visually impaired. My eyes began to bleed, and I was told the damage was permanent and there was a chance that I could go completely blind. As a Rabbi, reading is crucial to my job. There was a solution in English braille, which I started to learn. As those studies [click to continue...]
Friendship Circle MD D.C. aims to promote an inclusive Jewish community through lasting relationships. The nonprofit’s mission is “to provide every child with special needs in Montgomery County and D.C. the friendship, inclusion, and emotional support that they deserve,” and “to inspire and enrich our network of volunteers with the personal growth and fulfillment derived [click to continue...]
The disruptive effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic have reached almost every aspect of our lives. These include one of the most growing uses of technology – the one aimed at helping vast and diverse populations. Assistive technology, which, frankly, we may all need some day, is at the heart of 8200 Impact’s work. We [click to continue...]
Toolkit to be featured at “Rising Stars” Event celebrating Jewish Disability Action and Inclusion Month Los Angeles, CA, January 27 – RespectAbility, an organization that fights stigmas and advances opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community, is debuting a new toolkit that will equip Jewish individuals and organizations with [click to continue...]
The most joyous part of celebrating the eight nights of Hanukkah for me each year is reflecting on fond memories. I will forever and always cherish singing with the family and playing with the dreidel. I also cherish the many lessons that I learned from these observances. The Prayers My grandpa Harold Shapiro was a [click to continue...]
I have a dream I would like to share with you. On second thought, it’s not actually a dream. It’s a vision that stems from a deep longing. I am a neurodivergent individual, a survivor of complex brain surgery. I am also a parent of children with neurodiversity – including autism, ADHD, auditory and sensory [click to continue...]
I have always felt different, which I attribute to my disabilities. I have low vision, which I recently found out is due to a rare genetic disorder called MEPAN but I spent most of my life being undiagnosed. I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which effects my walking and physical activity. I feel that I [click to continue...]
