One of our tasks as a community is to fashion an educational program that meets the needs of all of our learners.  The Union for Reform Judaism philosophy and goals for special needs Jewish education can serve as a good guide for us as we move forward with our curricular planning:  All too often, rabbis, educators, teachers, and synagogue leaders intend to create a welcoming, inclusive community.  Yet they lack the tools to do so.  In Al Pi Darco (A special needs resource from the URJ), we the Department of Family Concerns staff and other Jewish leaders set out to create a philosophy and methodology of accessible education and inclusion for b'nei mitzvah.  Our goal is to transform Reform synagogues and their related institutions into environments in which ALL can experience Judaism.  It is a founding belief that access reaches beyond accomodation. We aim to create opportunities, to reach out and embrace those in our community with disabilities.

As we move forward as a community, all should know that we are striving towards the above ideal, recognizing that 10-15% of the population has some sort of disability, such as blindness, deafness, paralysis, cerebral palsy, neurological disorder, mental illness, arthritis, or an intellectual impariment.  We have members of the congregation who are skilled in special needs education and I have a MA in Religious Education which gives me some additional skills to help us achieve this communal goal.



I leave you with a poem by Jacob Artson:

"You Can Fly"

If you look long and hard

Maybe you'll see why

Everyone has a talent

And they can learn to fly.



If you look long and hard

You can see beyond the face.

It doesn't speak but it still feels

That everyone has a place.



If you look long and hard

There's a secret you will learn.

That love is something we all can share,

And no one has to earn.



If you look long and hard

at any girl or guy,

Maybe you can be the one

To show them how to fly.