Disability Inclusion

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Upcoming Events

Disability and Inclusion Shabbat Weekend

Friday, February 2 - Sunday, February 4

Agudas Achim's Disability Inclusion Committee invites you to join Agudas Achim for our 7th annual Disability and Inclusion Shabbat. This year, we are bringing awareness and attention to neurodivergent issues within the Jewish community.

On Friday night, an Agudas Achim member with neurodiversity will be our Kabbalat Shabbat speaker. On Saturday morning, Rachel Hamberger, PhD., who grew up at Agudas Achim Congregation, will discuss characteristics, education, and lifestyles of neurodiverse individuals, with a special emphasis on education. Rachel teaches preschoolers, who have been diagnosed with autism, in the Anne Arundel Public School district. A panel discussion will follow services and Kiddush.

Our sanctuary is equipped with a T-Coil for those who are hard-of-hearing and wear hearing aids; for those that do not wear hearing aids, but require assistance to hear, assisted listening devices are available and can be found on our Inclusion Cart, located at the doors to the sanctuary.

Phones and tablets may be used to activate speech to text apps.

ReelAbilities Film Festival - Okay!: The ASD Band Film

Sunday, February 4 | 4 p.m. at Beth El Hebrew Congregation

Click here to register

Agudas Achim's Disability Inclusion Committee is partnering for the fifth time with Beth El Hebrew Congregation's Disability Inclusion Committee and Brotherhood for the ReelAbilities Film Festival which is presented through the auspices of the Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia. This year's 86 minute, award-winning documentary is OKAY!: The ASD Band Film, which relays the story of four talented autistic musicians whose shared love of music brings them together.

Rawan, Jackson, Spenser, and Ron form the ASD band and shatter stereotypes about people with autism as they navigate a world where they are often misunderstood. The group finds strength in each other and their music as they write, record, and perform their first album. View a trailer here.

Melissa Heifetz, Executive Director, The ARC of Northern VA will lead the discussion that follows the film’s screening.

At Agudas Achim we are committed to being a truly inclusive spiritual community. We welcome the participation, leadership, and friendship of all individuals without regard to physical, emotional, cognitive, sensory, or communicative ability.
The Disability Inclusion Committee is working to further expand inclusion and access at Agudas Achim and we value input and contributions to this effort. If you are interested in being on the committee, want more information about the work of the committee, or would like to be on an email list about activities or events related to Disability Inclusion, please email Committee Co-Chair Gayle Weiss, or call the synagogue office, 703-998-6460.

HOW WE PRACTICE INCLUSION AT AGUDAS ACHIM

Our facility is wheelchair accessible, including the bima. The Cohen Sanctuary has wheelchair spaces with designated companion seats.
The Cohen Sanctuary and Flax Family Chapel have audio loops (T-Coils); we also offer assistive listening devices for those who would prefer them.
Lightweight, large-print mahzorim are available for the High Holy Days; and lightweight, large-print copies of Siddur Lev Shalem and the Etz Hayim Chumash are available for Shabbat.
Designation of priority aisle seating for Shabbat services in the Cohen Sanctuary will soon be available for persons with mobility issues.
It is the practice at Agudas Achim that we label allergens at all synagogue food events. Individuals with food allergies are permitted to store a small amount of kosher food in the synagogue kitchen for personal consumption while participating in Agudas Achim events. More on food allergy practices can be found here.
When possible, supports and accommodations are provided to children with disabilities in the religious school.
A staffed “break” room is available during religious school hours to support students who need space for self calming, sensory regulation, or to de-stress.

REQUEST AN ACCOMMODATION

To request an accommodation at Agudas Achim, please fill out the Agudas Achim Disability Inclusion Questionnaire, available in a paper copy from the office, or contact the Disability Inclusion Committee for a confidential conversation.

MORE INFORMATION ON INCLUSION

EVENTS

Jewish Disability and Inclusion Awareness Month | February

Thu, November 21 2024
20 Cheshvan 5785

AAC T-Coil

The Cohen Sanctuary and Flax Family Chapel are equipped with t-coils. If your hearing aids have been outfitted with a "T" twitch, then you can make use of the t-coil by doing one of the following:

1) Manually cycle through your hearing aid programs. In most hearing aids, this can be achieved by holding down the volume control.

2) Trigger the t-coil setting through your hearing aid's app.

Nationwide Inclusion Programs

Jewish organizations in North America are sponsoring more than 30 fantastic programs on inclusion in February. Find them on JewishTogether.org.

Some highlights include:
•   Inclusion for overnight and day camps
•   Teens may earn a certificate for attending 2 Yachad InclYOUsion Education Workshops
•   Smart Business: The Case for Inclusive Hiring
•   Fighting stigma with effective storytelling

Thu, November 21 2024 20 Cheshvan 5785