February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month. It is a unified effort among Jewish organizations worldwide to raise awareness and foster inclusion of people with disabilities and those who love them. People with disabilities make up the world’s largest minority group. Globally, around 10% of the world’s population lives with a disability of some kind. Twenty percent of people in the U.S. have some disability and one in 10 suffer from a severe disability. Over 10% of people in Israel have some form of disability that can make life’s daily activities a struggle. These statistics are just the beginning. Take into account the family, friends and loved ones of those with disabilities who are also affected and these numbers skyrocket.
The current pandemic has brought both hardships and benefits to people with disabilities. Things like Zoom and virtual meetings have provided opportunities for those who may not necessarily be able to get out or travel. Captions have made online programming more accessible for the hearing-impaired. However, there are difficulties as well. It’s difficult to go to a store and read someone’s lips with a mask on.
It is estimated that about 20% of the Jewish community has a disability. While data on inclusion in Jewish spaces is often difficult to find, opportunities for Jews with disabilities have gradually increased in recent years. Most day and overnight camps now have programs for campers with disabilities. Day schools have some programs but nowhere near what is needed.
A recent survey on disability in the Jewish community, conducted by RespectAbility, an organization that promotes inclusion in the Jewish community and more broadly, shows pluses and minuses. The survey showed that just 31% said the Jewish community is doing “extremely well” or “very well” in including people with disabilities. The number was lower among self-identified respondents with disabilities. But the survey also found that majorities of both groups said the community is doing better than it was five years ago.
Many synagogues, JCCs, camps, etc., have a disability inclusion initiative. What is still shocking is that some of the inclusion that’s free and instant to do is still not being done, such as captioning Zoom programs.
The pandemic has both highlighted ways in which Jewish institutions have become more inclusive and shone a light on work that still needs to be done. People with disabilities have found entryways into the Jewish community that they never had. Virtual programming often means more people with disabilities are able to participate fully. Even so, community members and congregants with disabilities often feel unacknowledged and invisible.
There has also been significant turnover in the Jewish disability advocacy world. Last year, the Ruderman Family Foundation, which devoted $80 million to disability inclusion over 18 years—at times 70% of its annual budget—announced that it was stepping away from funding that work. It’s now more focused on funding mental health programs in Massachusetts, where it’s based.
The Jewish community has triumphed time after time. Managing a Wi-Fi connection so programming can be hosted on Zoom is no major feat. However, as time moves on, the world grows tired and lonely. The novelty of our online connections soon wears off. People with disabilities long for human touch. They are stressed, confused and want more. We are all sick of being confined to our homes.
To many with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the pain of isolation is nothing new. It’s not tied to the pandemic but is something that has been an issue from the beginning of time. Many with IDD rely on their family or staff for transportation. They cannot simply jump in a car and go where they please. Even if they get to where they’d like to go, there may be physical barriers in the way such as a lack of accessible parking or a space that does not easily accommodate equipment such as walkers or wheelchairs. If physical barriers are not an issue, then social barriers potentially are.
We have created unwritten social rules. We say, “Hey how’s it going?” even if we are not actually inquiring about one’s day. We gossip to fit in even though we are aware that this behavior is typically not appropriate. We’ve decided that sneezing, coughing and yawning in public are completely acceptable. These unwritten social rules are very hard to teach because, while completely subjective, we’ve all somehow agreed on them. For those with IDD, these social rules can be difficult to follow and, if not followed correctly, it can lead to others not accepting them. Someone with IDD could be in a crowded shul and yet feel absolutely alone. Again, for many with IDD, isolation has nothing to do with the pandemic.
I know very well that my friends with IDD are a fun-loving, resilient bunch. I am writing this to challenge you. We are still stuck at home. We’ve already watched anything worth watching on Netflix, we’ve read all the bestsellers, our family walks have lost their allure and we’ve mastered the art of challah making. With all this time off on our hands, we are ready for a new activity. I’m challenging you to do a bit of homework on your own time. Take some time to reflect.
Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month. Awareness: How aware are you of various IDD diagnoses? Are you aware of any members in your congregation or community with IDD? Acceptance: Is your community one that truly champions acceptance? Are you yourself accepting of those with IDD and their differences? And most importantly, inclusion.
Soon, IY”H, we will be back to normal. There is a future ahead that will include parties, large gatherings and all the other social events that we have so dearly missed. It is time to ask ourselves: When our world returns to normal, how will we ensure that no one feels isolated and that our space is inclusive to all?
As we emerge from the pandemic, institutions should find ways to include people with disabilities both virtually and in person. One way to do that, inclusion advocates say, is to make sure people with disabilities have a role in decision-making. Individuals with disabilities do not want pity. The important thing is to collaborate, to communicate, and to just include them, since they are the best people to tell you what to do.
Rabbi Dr. Wallace Greene is the creator and founder of the Learning Disabilities Program of Metropolitan New Jersey, which became the Sinai Schools: A Uniquely Special Education.
