Inclusive Strategies

1

• Inclusive Strategies
• for
• Your Youth Department

with Dr. Shira M. Berkovits WINGS Youth
Consultant OU Department of Synagogue Services
2
OVERVIEW

• This webinar will provide you w/ a practical
  guide towards creating a YD that is truly
  welcoming for each child.
• Specifically Ill be discussing
• Community resources
• Meeting the needs in your community
• Creating a welcoming and safe environment
• Specific programs and Shabbat groups
• Food allergies

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Synagogues Dont Need To Go It Alone Remember
this is a community issue, and many people want
to help

• MINE RESOURCES
• Reach Out To Comm. Experts
• Learning Specialists
• Special Education Teachers
• Psychologists
• Who May
• Lead a special needs group
• Help develop curricula
• Provide training for YD/leaders
• Agree to be parent liaison
• Spearhead committee
• Consult as problems arise
• Interpret into sign language

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Potential Resources

• The Orthodox Union
• WINGS Youth Consultant Shira Berkovits
  www.youthdepartments.com or http//www.ou.org/syna
  gogue_services/wings (fees are subsidized by OU)
• Yachad http//www.njcd.org/index.php/njcd/about/C1
  137/
• Local federations
• Your local JCC/ or Y
• UJA http//www.ujafedny.org/disabilities/
• Jewish Board of Children Family Services
  http//www.jbfcs.org/
• Friendship Circle http//www.friendshipcircle.com
  /.
• Pairs teen volunteers with children with special
  needs
• Matan http//www.matankids.org/
• Whole Systems Approach Matan creates a team
  consisting of lay leaders, professionals, and
  interested parties in order to design a more
  inclusive synagogue community.
• Rosh Pina http//joshuaventuregroup.org/2012/fell
  ows/fellows-current/elana-naftalin-kelman, Joshua
  Venture Group Fellow, Elana Naftalin-Kelman
• Supports synagogues through a year long process
  to become special needs certified by providing
  consultations, resources and communal learning

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PRE-MEETING

• Call a Meeting for Parents
• Find out who is out there
• Many in the wood works
• Advertise Everywhere
• Show your commitment
• Print
• Shul bulletins
• School newsletters
• Local newspapers
• Community list-serves
• Social media

• Phone Calls/ Emails
• Families you know
• Community experts
• Consider partnering with
• Other synagogues
• Schools
• Local and national organizations

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THE MEETING

• Content
• Goal Discover needs
• So many types of needs
• Some families might just require a small tweak,
  others need more
• Elicit feedback for ideas
• Ask parents what they most want from the
  synagogue
• Meet every child
• Ask about fears enjoyment

• Be Prepared
• Be a sympathetic listener w/out being intimidated
• Have rabbinic support
• Acknowledge what you know
• If its not a lot, say so.
• Enlist parents as allies
• Describe your limited resources
• Can accomplish goals only through partnership
• Parents need to invest to see rewards

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Many Special NeedsAfter your meeting you have a
sense of the special needs in your community.

• Physical Disabilities
• Can impact mobility, hearing, speech, sight
• Invisible disabilities - may appear to be
  typically functioning
• Sensory,
• Learning,
• Social
• Mood, behavioral, or personality disorders
• Developmental such as autism spectrum disorders
• Cognitive Disabilities
• Transitional Issues
• Food Allergies

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CREATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT

• Loud Clear PR materials, mission
  statement, websites, announcements should
  emphasize inclusion
• Even if accommodations are not yet ready, invite
  the conversation
• If handicap accessible, include that information
  everywhere
• This sends a message of welcome sets the tone
  for an inclusive YD

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The Synagogue Can Be an Overwhelming Place
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ORGANIZATION Most adaptations to accommodate a
child with special needs will benefit others

•  Safety. Begin by ensuring safety, a parents
  chief concern.
• Registration be responsible. More
  accountability is better for all.
• CPR Evacuation Training
• Doors with windows
• Zero tolerance policy for bullying
• All children must feel protected and safe
• Organization
• Clearly planned quality curriculum makes for
  easier integration
• See Interactive Programming video from Youth Con
  2011 for more information on content for youth
  groups at www.youthcon.org/videos.html
• Post a schedule on the wall follow it

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Organization Continued

• Setting The Physical Space
• Minimize distractions
• Use chairs for group activities
• Label names on the chairs to preempt behavioral
  issues
• Quiet voices, calm and quiet hallways, no need to
  over-stimulate
• Preparation
• Many kids with special needs do not attend
  Jewish schools. They may be more isolated
  socially and Judaically
• A preview goes far for children with special
  needs
• Provide advance exposure to the schedule
• 1-2 tips of what is covered in groups so they
  can participate
• Introduce to another child who can ease the
  transition

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GROUPS

• Special Needs Group
• Kol HaYiladim/ Kol HaNearim
• Inclusion Group
• Great message for all children
• Shadows
• Quiet youth leaders might be the perfect shadow
• Professional shadows for more intense needs
• Know trigger points

• Teen Minyan
• Big sibling transition program
• Youth Leader
• Snack or clear task
• Take a break when necessary
• Someone to help the transition
• May be great with younger kids

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FOOD ALLERGIES

• Registration list
• List in classroom on snack closet
• No outside food
• Special training for snack leaders group
  leaders
• Severe allergies
• Each child must wash hands and mouth before
  entering
• Training with maintenance staff on wiping down
  room
• Train leaders to use an epi-pen
• Other Health Concerns
• Dental
• Juvenile Diabetes
• Obesity

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PROGRAMS

• Common triggers loud crowded busy.
• Amplification
• Simchat Torah, Purim, carnivals
• Try adapting by programming
• Flexibly. Allow age swaps. Older children dont
  need to be excluded from arts crafts Tot
  Shabbat
• For multi-sensory stimulation.
• Aim for visuals full-body experiences
• e.g. act out birchot hashachar
• Special Needs Sedua Shlishit

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CONCLUSION

• Creating a culture of inclusion takes time,
  effort buy-in
• YDs are in unique position to get the ball
  rolling
• So that every child can have a place, not just in
  our hearts, but actually, physically in our
  communities
• Ultimately, effort you invest in this endeavor
  will repay 10-fold
• In the satisfaction of including all children
• In so doing you will improve quality of your
  program gain a shem tov a good reputation in
  your community beyond.

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THANK YOU!

• This webinar is dedicated to the inspiring,
  resilient families with special needs (you know
  who you are) in the communities I work with. What
  I know today I owe to you.

Interested in additional resources for your youth
department? Check out www.youthdepartments.com