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Introducing the new Jewish Abilities Alliance

 

Special Needs Resources For Everyone

 

The Jewish Abilities Alliance (JAA) promotes an inclusive, spirited environment that celebrates the diversity in our community and the uniqueness of every member. This website serves as a user-friendly gateway to resources in the Jewish and general community for people with disabilities. The JAA links individuals with all abilities and their families to resources, services, support groups, workshops and clinics, and recreational programs within their community.

 

Visit the full site now!                         Visit the resource directory.

 

The website is accessible for users with disabilities, voluntarily meeting Section 508 standards for information technology (a Rehabilitation Act requirement for federal agencies).

If you have any suggestions, additions, or feedback on this site, please email JAA@jfedsnj.org.

 

This initiative is made possible by the vision and hard work of Southern NJ Jewish Abilities Alliance Coalition, with funding from the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jerseys' Community Shark Tank initiative. Thank you!

 

Join our Special Needs Coalition Facebook group to connect and engage with other families in the community. 

The Jewish Federation is committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with special needs. We believe they should have the opportunity to achieve their highest potential, and lead independent, and fulfilled lives as members of our South Jersey community. We offer programming onsite at the Jewish Community Campus at 1301 Springdale Road and at our new Federation Annex at 1721 Springdale Road, and offsite at other locations throughout the community.

PJ Library is now available to children of all abilities in South Jersey! If you have a child with special needs, please email pjlibrary@jfedsnj.org for more info. To learn more about the PJ Library program, visit jewishsouthjersey.org/pjlibrary.

Jewish Education: 

 

Our mission for special education is to help Jewish schools and institutions provide appropriate formal Jewish education for children with special needs. There are many children who are unable to function in the school systems without extra help. While the public schools have long since been addressing these issues, the Hebrew schools and Jewish day schools have not had the funds to do so. Therefore, many Jewish children were left out when it comes to Jewish learning and simply are not afforded the opportunity to socialize with their Jewish peers and learn about our traditions and culture in a formal atmosphere. 

 

Partly funded by the Raymond & Gertrude R. Saltzman Foundation, the Special Needs Jewish Education grant allows every Jewish child in our community the opportunity for a Jewish education. The Department of Jewish Education (DJE) works closely with the synagogue schools throughout the year to make certain each child gets the help and/or supplies needed in the school of his or her choice. 

 

The DJE offers seminars throughout the school year to our community teachers allowing them the opportunity to learn to work more efficiently with children with special needs. 

  • Families can be comfortable joining the synagogue of their choice because our program makes sure that each child receives no matter which school he or she attends. 
  • We have an annual grant from the Raymond & Gertrude R. Saltzman Foundation to support children with special needs. 
  • We work with all of the local religious schools. 

WHAT EDUCATORS SAY

Fran TwerskyPrincipalNer Tamid

"...Because of the funding we receive from your program, we are able to hire qualified teachers and aides who assist our children with special needs so that our children can participate fully in our programs and activities. Having our students participate in our school both academically and socially greatly enhances their self esteem." 

Wendy Marder, Educational Director, B'nai Tikvah

"When a hearing impaired child entered our program mid-year, the DJE found us a wonderful interpreter and procured funds quickly so that the child was able to become a part of our school immediately. Each year, the funding from the DJE has led us to hire extra people to allow our students with special needs to learn in a better way."