Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM)
Observed each February, Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is a unified initiative to raise disability awareness and support efforts to foster inclusion in Jewish communities worldwide.
While JDAIM brings the issue of disability inclusion to the forefront in February, the Bender JCC focuses on inclusion year-round. Like all the Bender JCC’s efforts to create connections throughout the Greater Washington region, our work for those community members with disabilities is not limited to a designated month but is a mission we recommit ourselves to daily.
With that in mind, we’re thrilled to publish this special edition of our Winter Program Guide, expanded to include articles from our community partners that highlight the diversity of our Greater Washington Jewish community. You’ll hear how timeless and universal Jewish values – like acceptance, empathy, inclusivity, and humility – help guide the disabilities inclusion work of remarkable organizations like The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Jewish Social Services Agency (JSSA), Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS), Sunflower Bakery, and Makom.
Intentionally designed with accessible colors and fonts, our Winter Program Guide also features “resource round-ups” to amplify our support for community members of all abilities, and ensure that every individual can enjoy a meaningful and well-rounded experience.
We invite you to take this journey with us. Building an inclusive community is never complete; there will always be needs to address, and we recognize that the work of inclusion belongs to all of us.
On behalf of the Bender JCC staff and our partner organizations across the Greater Washington Jewish community, we thank you for reading our Winter Program Guide. We hope the stories inspire you and the resources connect you to our community.
With friendship and gratitude,
Brandon
Read More Stories Below:
“An Expanded Vision For Inclusion”, by Bender JCC CEO Josh Bender
“Creating A Sense Of Belonging” by Lisa Handelman, Director Inclusion and Belonging, Jewish Federation Of Greater Washington
“Awareness, Acceptance and Action” by David Ervin, CEO, Makom
“Educational Support for Students of All Abilities” by Lenore Layman, Lower School Educational Support Services | Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
“Transformative Inclusion In The Classroom” by Alex Band, Director, Bender ECC, and Rachel Assal-Albert, Developmental Support Coordinator, Bender ECC
“Reflecting on the Value of Inclusion” by Kate Falls, Director of Inclusion, Bender JCC
“Encouraged To Take A Leap” by Todd Schenk, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Social Services Agency
“A Recipe For Independence” by Sara Portman Milner, Co-Founder and Associate Director, Sunflower Bakery