For sixteen years, Jewish Learning Venture has enabled Jewish communities to provide access to the full range of Jewish experience to individuals with special needs and their families.
With Whole Community Inclusion, we prepare Jewish professional and volunteer leaders to embrace people of all abilities.
meet regularly to share their inclusion best practices in the Jewish Special Needs/Disability Inclusion Consortium of Greater Philadelphia
are supported by JLV
synagogues received consulting services provided by Jewish Learning Venture customized to make their educational programs more inclusive of special needs
February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM)!
participated in JDAIM Shabbat Across Philadelphia
were distributed locally and nationally to help children of all ages learn about disability and inclusion
…and many synagogues to bring programs to celebrate this important month.
“As parents of a child who is easily overstimulated by sounds and a lot of activity, it means so much to me and my husband to have sensory-friendly programming to bring him to. "
“You gave us so much insight into each of our personal learning and teaching styles, as well as what we can do better as an institution. I know we will be able to reach more students because of it!"
“TAP has changed how I view people with disabilities immensely…and how I view people and situations as a whole."
“I am learning the nuance of interpersonal relationships and the value of meeting people where they are without judgment. It is so important to approach each person with hesed and with the openness to see differences as assets instead of divisions."
“[The WCI workshop] made me think about the actual seder that I have and how we can better engage my son [with special needs]. I realize that, too often—and through no one's fault—he's a bystander at these seders and often sits while others read. I realized that we need to engage him as much as possible so he feels like he's truly a part of the seder."
we've trained to support and advocate for students with disabilities in the Reta Emerson Fellowship/Teen Assistant Program since its launch in 2004
After launching B'nai Mitzvah Tutor Training two years ago – the first in North America – we have trained tutors from more than
participated in 6 sensory-friendly Jewish programs
taught 50 parents to adapt Jewish rituals for their children's specific needs
received personal consultations to connect with community resources and learn to serve as home-based Jewish educators for their own children
