The Jewish Education Project is proud to celebrate JDAIM with our collection of disability & inclusion resources. Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (or JDAIM) was founded in 2009 to bring the Jewish world’s attention to an important and often overlooked part of our community. In Israel alone, nearly 10% of its citizens have some form of disability that affects their daily lives. Through storytelling, videos, and engaging discussion, we hope our resources will cultivate an inclusive mindset towards the disabled members of our Jewish family.
JDAIM’S MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month is to unite Jewish communities worldwide to raise awareness and champion the rights of all Jews to be accepted and included in all aspects of Jewish life like anyone else.
Photo credits: Special in Uniform & JNF-USA
- After School and Beyond
- Congregational Learning
- Day Schools and Yeshivas
- Early Childhood
- Teen Engagement
- Article
- Guide
- Disability and Belonging
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Creating Inclusive Spaces
Guide and activities for creating an inclusive environment in your Jewish youth philanthropy program.
Tips for educators and parents about what to expect while taking part in an inclusive preschool program.
A collection of ideas, practices, and resources dedicated to inclusive thinking for students with disabilities.
A list of basic access suggestions as a place to start
Chabad and the URJ's Reform Action Center's lists of how to do effective JDAIM programming.
A podcast about a devout Orthodox girl who read her Torah portion in Braille.
Listen for concrete suggestions and language for talking about learning differences in the classroom and in the world around us.
A variety of voices talking about their experience with disability in the Jewish community.
Daniel Olson discusses his research on Jewish Education for people with disabilities.
A guide developed by the Foundation for Jewish Camp and the Ramah Camping Movement.
A Jewish Learning Ventures virtual series about disability inclusion hosted by inclusion experts.
A Valued Life takes learners on an journey to help them learn how to live authentically Jewish and inclusive lives.
This toolkit includes access to educational resources on disability inclusion.
This book, created by the Jewish Funders Network, grounds disability rights in Jewish values.
A comprehensive inclusion guide to help create an inclusive space
WATCH and learn 5 practical tips to help people with disabilities and their families during challenging times.
Teaching Inclusion
A collection of lesson plans by Matan focusing on disability inclusion in the Jewish community.
Lesson plans for educators that use Jewish values to help students learn about disability inclusion.
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution is a 2020 documentary exploring the world of a camp for kids with disabilities.
Meet the members of Israel's Shalva Band, comprised of eight talented musicians with disabilities.
Curated children's books for all ages to encourage Disability Awareness, Acceptance, & Inclusion
Education Resources on Disability Issues from RespectAbility.
Learn about one of the most unique military units in the world: Special in Uniform of the Israeli Defense Force.
A list of book recommendations from RespectAbility.
User-friendly Sourcebooks combine relevant, text-based conversations and experiential learning.
JCC Association of North America's Eight Guiding Principles on Inclusion as well as a series of events for JDAIM.
From JDAIM founders: An updated guide for a meaningful month of programming
Photographs and video footage of JDC's work with elderly and disabled new immigrants following the establishment of the State of Israel.
Supporting our Learners
These guides can support students in writing the D’var Torah with guidelines to express and organize their thoughts.
Steps for clergy and educators to imagine what is possible for the B-Mitzvah teen with disabilities.
These Shabbat blessings, created by Gateways' experienced special education teachers, are Illustrated with Tobii Dynavox Picture Communication Symbols®. Illustrating each word with a symbol helps to make these blessings more accessible and understandable for pre-readers and students with
This toolkit includes information and activities about the Jewish value of "Love Your Neighbor" for your family and/or classroom.
A recorded webinar that focus on the unique sensory challenges that surface in school.
Fun educational activities to help people with disabilities learn and connect with the Jewish Holidays and traditions.
Gateways offers a library of free, downloadable Jewish holiday resources to make holiday celebrations inclusive.
Tips and Tricks for supporting people with disabilities in programs and events in honor of JDAIM.
JDAIM lesson plans, resources and more from Jewish Learning Venture.