For almost as long as Jews have been in Oregon, there have been schools to help facilitate the transmission of knowledge to the next generation. Since the founding of the Portland Hebrew School in the early 1900s, opportunities for Jewish education have blossomed along with the growth of the Jewish community. Portland now offers…
While every child has individual needs when it comes to bar and bat mitzvah preparation, youngsters with mental and physical disabilities have unique challenges and strengths. As the director of congregational learning at Neveh Shalom and mother of a son with Asperger’s syndrome, Mel Berwin’s interest in working with all children runs deep. “At one…
When Hannah Sturman became a bat mitzvah in February, it stirred many emotions in the Neveh Shalom community. Hannah and her younger brother Mitchell have a rare brain disorder in which the two hemispheres of the brain do not communicate with each other. Congregation Neveh Shalom for many years hosted a community-wide Sunday school class…
Does integrating students with special needs benefit all students or the community in general? Ben Sandler Education Director Congregation Beth Israel “You shall not insult the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind.” Leviticus 19:14 Integrating students with special needs absolutely benefits everyone! The first illustration that comes to mind is the work…
B’nai B’rith Camp has opened its arms in the spirit of community. Now in its second year, Kehila (Hebrew for community) integrates children with a variety of special needs into the summer camp experience. Following inclusion models based in schools, Kehila positively impacts children with disabilities, instilling in them a sense of independence while inspiring…
Moishe House and Tikvah have teamed up to coordinate events that integrate young adults with disabilities into the community. Tikvah is Jewish Family and Child Service’s social group for young adults with disabilities. Moishe House resident Emly Oren heard about Tikvah when she started working for JFCS in November 2011. “I realized there are some…
Historically, families with a child with special needs have often felt isolated. After the trips to doctors, finding specialists and seeking support from close family members, there is a feeling of isolation within the community. Or so it was until about 20 years ago. No longer hidden in institutions or kept at home, our children…
Rachel Bloom was teaching special ed but she was troubled. She’d grown attached to her high school students and wondered what was next for them. She wanted them to have happy, productive lives, but when her students with developmental disabilities turned 18 and graduated, most faced a grim shortage of vocational and recreational options. She…
