We have reached the end of another Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month.
I always find myself thinking that true inclusion is the work of every day, not the work of one month. Opening the doors to ALL is not something we do once in a while. It must be the very fabric of who we are every day.
Nevertheless, I hope that February has inspired you in some way if you were not inspired before.
Take a moment or two for
reflection. Did you experience something
meaningful? Did you learn something
new? What inspired you? Please share it in the comments below. Let's share our
experiences and use this as an opportunity for meaningful reflection.
Meaningful reflection can
lead to positive action!
Some thoughts for you to consider:
- As you plan next year’s calendar, look with an eye toward ensuring that all your programs will be inclusive.
- Form an Inclusion Committee or task force now, so that it can guide your conversations in the program year to come.
- As you plan your budget, set aside funds for professional development, teacher training and/or guest speakers.
Ten Steps to Make Your Congregation Inclusive
I say often that inclusion is not a program. Nor is inclusion something that we do for people
with disabilities. Rather, inclusion is a mindset, an attitude, a way of
thinking that opens doors to opportunities for meaningful engagement,
contribution and belonging.
I hope that you will take what you have learned and move forward on the journey toward inclusion. Make a plan,
chart a path…decide how you will do it and who will be on the journey with
you. Martin Luther King Jr. taught, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the
whole staircase.” 
And think of Nachshon ben Aminadav. When the Israelites, on their exodus from Egypt, came to the edge of the sea, with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit; it seemed as though their journey had reached its end. Nachshon, knowing that to go back meant certain death, chose instead to trust in God and walked forward into the sea. The Israelites followed. Nachshon had no proof that he would be able to safely cross, but he had faith, he was not deterred.
Now it is your turn. Have faith and walk into the water. Find someone who believes in inclusion as much as you do. Start the conversation. Take the first steps. Others will follow.
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