I was on a phone call when I heard the unmistakable sound of children running and giggling as they rushed past my office door. Although it was October, it was reminiscent of the sounds we hear every day during the summer when our building is transformed into a camp extravaganza at Lessans Camp JCC.

I opened my office door to see what the excitement was about, to find a group of children dashing down the hall, having fun, and feeling like they were at home. I recognized them from our summer inclusion program, and I was so delighted to see that they had returned to the Bender JCC to participate in one of our fall programs long after camp had ended.

Over the last two years, the Bender JCC has expanded our vision for inclusion. We are now beginning to see children and young adults with disabilities participating in community life year-round.

Inclusion is the cornerstone on which the Bender JCC has built our community. Inclusion is not only about designing programs for individuals with disabilities; it is about designing programs that are open, accessible, and supportive for people of all abilities, backgrounds, and identities.

Shavim (meaning “equal” in Hebrew) is an example of such a program. Now in its second year at the Bender JCC, Shavim invites teens with and without disabilities to play soccer together, grow their athletic skills, and develop friendships.

I am extremely proud of our entire Jewish community for having embraced a commitment of inclusion. We are fortunate to have partners across the region who are committed to this incredibly important work. Thank you to our colleagues at Makom, the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Jewish Social Services Agency, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, and Sunflower Bakery for their tireless work and for contributing their important voices to our special JDAIM publication.

If you want to learn more about inclusion at the Bender JCC, or want more information on our programs, please reach out. We would love to hear from you.