Disabilities, Inclusion, and Jewish Education

How does the Jewish community help individuals with a range of disabilities participate meaningfully in Jewish education and Jewish life? A panel of experts discusses key innovations and challenges in the field as they apply to both formal and informal Jewish education, and explores which programs, services, and opportunities are still missing.

Speakers:

• Howard Blas is Director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network, which offers the inspirational Ramah camp experience to Jewish children and young adults with disabilities.  
• Dori Frumin Kirshner (GS ’96) is Executive Director of Matan in New York City, an organization that impacts Jewish special needs education by training current and future leaders in a multitude of settings.
• Arlene Remz is Executive Director of Gateways: Access to Jewish Education, the central organization for Jewish special education in Greater Boston.
• Ilana Ruskay-Kidd is Founder and Head of the Shefa School, a new Jewish day school in New York City for children with learning disabilities. 

Moderator: Dr. Abigail Uhrman, Assistant Professor of Jewish Education at the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of JTS, researches parents of children with special needs, Jewish day schools, and educational decision-making.