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The Jewish Disabilities Network is on Facebook!
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Stay connected to the JDN throughout the year by "liking" us on Facebook!
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Inclusion Tip:
Disability Etiquette
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Excerpted from DBTAC Rocky Mountain
(Disability & Business Technical Assistance Center)
1. Speak directly to the person and maintain eye contact with them, not the interpreter.
2. Use common sense and extend common courtesies to everyone.
3. Offer assistance, listen for response, and follow any specific directions.
4. Help make your community accessible.
5. Be patient. People with disabilities and seniors sometimes need a bit more time to express themselves or to move about.
6. Describe and address people with disabilities appropriately. Use "people-first language" and avoid words like: handicapped, afflicted, or victim. For example, "a person with a disability" or "a person who is hearing impaired."
7. Relax and be yourself. Don't worry about using common phrases like, "See you later."
8. Do not pet, feed, or distract service animals. They are working animals, not pets.
9. Don't patronize. Treat adults as adults.
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Did You Know?
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The World Health Organization has reported that four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S. and other developed countries are mental disorders. By 2020, major depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.
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Greetings!
We are very excited to share stories with you about inclusion and tips on including people with disabilities in the community. In the articles below, you will learn about great inclusion activities happening around town including the 5th Annual Jewish Disabilities Awareness Day and Family Resource Fair on January 27!
Sincerely,
Inna Ermakov
Jewish Disabilities Network coordinator
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Save the Date for 5th Annual Jewish Disabilities Awareness Day and Family Resource Fair: January 27, 2013
Mark your calendar for Sunday, January 27 at 2:00 p.m. and plan to join us for the fifth annual Jewish Disabilities Awareness Day and Family Resource Fair at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center. This free event promotes understanding and inclusion in community life for Jewish people with disabilities and provides valuable resources for families and caregivers.
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Keynote Speaker Tricia Downing
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Get inspired by Tricia Downing, our keynote and author of Cycle of Hope, whose life was changed in an instant when she was hit by a car while riding her bike and became paralyzed.
In addition to the presentation, you can attend a resource fair and meet with vendors from a variety of businesses that provide services for people with special needs, participate in a collaborative art project for all abilities, and enjoy a dessert reception catered by Shalom Cares.
Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
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Friendship Circle Fosters Lifelong Friendships
By Lera Yavich
In each issue of the Inclusion Express, the Inclusion Committee of the Jewish Disabilities Network will showcase an organization that is exemplifying the meaning of "inclusion" in our community.
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Lera Yavich volunteering with Friendship Circle
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I entered college completely unaware of the Jewish community. Being a Jew from the Ukraine, my family did not know much about the religion because it was not something they could openly practice. My parents kept the traditions they could and passed those along to me, which were saved in my mind as a jumble between Ukrainian and Jewish traditions. My mother urged me to go to a place called "Chabad," which I had never heard of. After enduring the standard Jewish mother guilt trip, I appeased her and looked at the Chabad website. I saw a link for volunteering with kids with special needs once a week and was instantly hooked. Growing up with a brother who has Down syndrome, I know what the stresses are like for families with a child who has special needs. I also know how amazing and loving people with special needs are and the light they bring into the lives of people who surround them. I signed up and a few days later, met with Leah Wilhelm, the Chabad Rebbetzin on the campus in Boulder. After a brief interview over some coffee, Leah told me she had a family she wanted me to meet. Read the full article... |
Sukkot Party at Aish Denver
by Elana Tenenbaum
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Rabbi Tenenbaum with Nick Huber
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On October 7, the members of the Jewish Disabilities Network met at Aish Denver with Rabbi Menachem Tenenbaum and a group of teenage volunteers for a Sukkot party.
Friends were greeted with big smiles and high fives. The program began with pizza and fries. Rabbi Tenenbaum introduced the ideas of Sukkot to the group by explaining that Sukkot is about bringing all types of Jews together. Just as the four species (three branches in the lulav and the etrog fruit) each have their unique role in the performance of the mitzvah, so too does each individual Jew, no matter his or her ability level.
The JDN prepared an engaging "Jewish Jeopardy" game full of questions about the holidays, Shabbat, and the Torah. The group laughed together as we worked as a team to help answer some of the questions. There was such a warm feeling in the air despite the chilly weather outside.
Aish Denver and the JDN look forward to working together in many more inclusion activities.
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When You See Three Stars...
by Lynn Rubenstein, JDN program assistant
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Rabbi Rubenstein at the JFS Group Home
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As the sun set on Saturday evening, November 10, members of the Jewish Family Service Group Home celebrated the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week. My husband, Rabbi Steven Rubenstein, and our daughter, Tova, joined the residents for pizza bagels, salad, and conversation. After the meal, we lit the twisted Havdallah candle, poured the grape juice, and opened the spice box to mark the end of Shabbat and to welcome the new week.
Blessings were sung and songs were added to the special ceremony. We passed the spice box and everyone smelled the sweet smells of cloves and cinnamon that encourage us to have a nice week to come. The group was excited about the movies they had chosen to watch for their Saturday night activity and the popcorn that would go with it. We made plans to meet again for another Havdallah get together sometime soon.
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My Experience as a Volunteer Buddy
By Rachel Ptaszek | |
Raquel and Rachel
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Raquel and I met through a mutual friend almost two years ago, and I think we were both a little nervous because we did not know what to expect. I was not sure if we would have similar interests or if she would think I was not as good of a fit as her previous buddy. However, once she told me that she loved to go bowling and thrifting, I knew we would get along. Raquel and I meet about twice a month, once with the JDN activities and another time during the month that works well for both of us. We often grab a bite to eat-breakfast being our favorite meal-and go do an activity. Some of the activities include bowling, thrifting or shopping, picking pumpkins around Halloween, doing arts and crafts, eating ice cream, and just enjoying each other's company. Raquel is such a kind, thoughtful, patient, and giving person; she always wants to do nice things for her friends and family. For example, she always has cards and presents for others around the holidays. She is very patient and puts up with my bad sense of direction when I get lost driving around Denver and Aurora. One of our favorite outings was when I yet again got lost on the way to the park, so we stopped at a coffee shop to ask for directions. Instead of going to the park, we decided to stay at the coffee shop and paint cardboard boxes. The coffee shop ladies were very accommodating and we sat for a couple of hours just painting and chatting. At the end of our time, Raquel wrote a thank you note to the coffee shop ladies for allowing us to paint. This experience showed me that sometimes the plans you have in mind don't always work out how you imagined, but making the most of the experience is the crucial aspect. Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." In other words, it may be difficult to remember what Raquel and I spoke about or did when we first met, but we don't forget that we have fun and feel happy after meeting up. I've also realized that we don't have to do any major activity each time we meet, but just to be a friend and have a friend for company, to connect and be heard is all someone really needs. To learn more about becoming a volunteer buddy, please contact Nancy Benyamin, director of volunteer services at 720.248.4642.
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