Greetings!
Welcome to the first issue of The Inclusion Express, brought to you by the Jewish Disabilities Network (JDN)! We are very excited to start sharing stories with you about inclusion and tips on including people with disabilities in the community. We will be sending this out on a quarterly basis and always value your feedback. Feel free to let us know what you think or if you have other ideas for articles we could include.
Sincerely,
Inna Ermakov and Erica Gross
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About the Jewish Disabilities Network
As you may already know, the mission of the Jewish Disabilities Network (JDN) is to provide services and coordinate resources to promote full participation of Jewish people with disabilities in the Jewish community and the community at large. We are currently serving more than 55 people with disabilities and their families by providing various services including information and referral, case management, advocacy, and social and recreational activities.
Learn more about the JDN and resources available...
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Inclusion Committee of the Jewish Disabilities Network
Striving to include people of all abilities in Jewish communal life
We are excited to report that the JDN recently started an Inclusion Committee to work on making the Jewish community stronger and more welcoming to all! To date we have 11 organizations represented and a total of 19 members. The committee meets monthly and the goal is to support each individual organization's work on including people with disabilities at their own facilities. We will continue to update you on our inclusion ideas and progress.
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Some of the members of our Inclusion Committee
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Thank you to the following organizations who have representatives serving on the Inclusion Committee of the Jewish Disabilities Network: Birthright Israel NEXT Colorado, BMH-BJ Congregation, B'nai Havurah, Colorado Agency for Jewish Education, Congregation Rodef Shalom, Hebrew Educational Alliance, Jewish Family Service, Keshet of the Rockies, Temple Emanuel, Temple Micah, and Temple Sinai.
In addition, we could not be a success without the help of the following self advocates Don Mauck, Nick Ortiz-Trammell, Kevin Pettit, Jessica Taylor; and Jewish Disabilities Network Advisory Committee Chair Jane E. Rosenbaum.
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Inclusion Story: Baseball Event at the Denver Jewish Day School
The JDN clients often get together with students from the Denver Jewish Day School (DJDS) for fun activities including Jewish holiday celebrations and Torah studies. At the beginning of May, the residents and staff of the JFS Group Home were invited to attend a baseball game at the Denver Jewish Day School. When the people from the Group Home arrived, the DJDS Tigers were losing. The Group Home residents started cheering the team on and when they left, the Tigers were up by at least 3 points.
Asher Kaye, DJDS student and Tigers player, said,"The entire Denver JDS Tigers baseball team was inspired by the presence and encouragement of the JFS Group Home at our final home game. Their cheers helped energize the team to overcome a tough start to the game and send us off to the playoffs on a high note. After the game, the residents said that they would love to come to future Denver JDS sporting events. I know I speak for my whole school when I say that the Group Home, and the excitement their spirit adds to the game, is more than welcome back. With them in the stands, look out for the Tigers!!"
Thanks to all who attended! It was a great event!
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