Disability Resources
ASL/CART Subsidy Information
Greater MetroWest ABLE has funds available to subsidize the costs of a sign language interpreter/CART for your Jewish community program. If you are planning a program and would like to have a sign language interpreter/CART to better meet the needs of the greater community, please contact Rebecca Wanatick, Community Inclusion Manager at [email protected] or (973) 929-3129. There are several resources available to identify local interpreters/CART providers and would be able to assist in funding the effort.
Greater MetroWest Resources
Community Partner Agencies
Social/Recreational Programs
Vocational & Transition Services
Adult Day Habilitation Programs
Residential Options
Mental Health & Spiritual Support Services
Chaplaincy of Greater MetroWest
Long-term Planning
Support Coordination Services – Support Coordination is a service that assists individuals with disabilities, 21 years of age or older, in gaining access to programs and services that will help them achieve your hopes and dreams and live a meaningful life.
Coordinated Care of MetroWest (CCM)- Assists and supports individuals, families, and/or caregivers living in Greater MetroWest who are overseeing the lifetime care of adults with developmental or acquired disabilities. CCM will ensure ongoing individualized and personal concern for such individuals with disabilities who may survive their caregivers or whose caregivers are not available to support them.
Nothing About Us Without Us
Resources created by self-advocates & family members
- Pamela Schuller’s Eli Talk – I am Here; Hear Me Bark: Comedy, Disability & the Inclusive Synagogue
- More of Pam’s experiences are shared HERE.
- Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer Eli Talk – Faith, Companionship & Vulnerability: Standing with Families Who Have a Child with a Disability
- More of Gabby’s perspectives are shared HERE.
- Ari Ne’eman’s How We’re Failing Jews with Disabilities
- More of Ari’s perspectives are shared HERE.
- Mayim Bialik’s videos about living with a mental health condition
- Matan Koch is a self advocate and disability inclusion professional
- Rabbi Lauren Tuchman’s Eli Talk – We Were All at Sinai: The Transformative Power of Inclusive Torah
- More of Rabbi Tuchman’s perspectives are shared HERE.
- Liz Weintraub’s Tuesday’s with Liz: Disability Policy for All – a weekly video series highlighting current issues in disability policy, hosted by Liz Weintraub, disability advocate.
- Judy Heumann’s TEDx Talk, Our Fight for Disability Rights & Why We’re Not Done Yet
- Disability Sensitivity Training Video to help those not yet involved.
- Becoming Disabled – Roughly one if five American’s lives with a disability. So where is our pride movement?
- Melinda Jennis is a mom and disability advocate
- New York Times Disability Series – series of essays, art, and opinion by and about people living with disabilities
- Sue Austin’s Ted talk, Deep Sea Diving…in a Wheelchair to question our perspective our wheelchair use
- How to Help a Parent Whose Child is Suffering from Mental Illness
- Sharon Rosenblatt’s Coming Out of Hiding: Revealing a Mental Disability
National Jewish Disability Resources
- Foundation for Jewish Camps Inclusion Initiatives
- Disability Inclusion Learning Center
- Down Syndrome Among Us
- Friendship Circle
- Gateways
- Hineinu
- Inclusion Innovations
- JBI International
- Jewish Funders Network Guide to Jewish Values and Disabilities Rights
- Jewish Deaf Resource Center
- Jewish Genetic Disease Consortium
- Matan
- Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
- Removing the Stumbling Block – Judaism, Disability Inclusion & Education
- RespectAbility
- Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project
- Yad HaChazakah Jewish Disability Empowerment Center
Religious Affiliations
Inclusion resources from each of the movements of Judaism
- United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism
- Union for Reform Judaism
- Reconstructionist Movement
- Chabad
NJ Disability Links
- Advocates for Children of NJ
- ASPEN
- Division of Disability Services
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Epilepsy Foundation of NJ
- Learning Disability Association of NJ
- NJ Aging and Disability Resource Connection
- NJ Department of Community Affairs — Disabilities Resource Directory
- NJ Developmental Disabilities Council
- NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities
- NJ Division of Disability Services
- NJ Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
- NJ Special Health Services
- NJ Travel Independence Program (NJTIP)
- PerformCare NJ Children’s System of Care
- Wrightslaw Yellow Pages for Kids
Physical Access
Making the physical space welcoming and inclusive for all
- National Network, Information, Guidance & Training on the ADA
- RespectAbllity’s Accessibility Checklist
- Assistive Listening Toolkit – Houses of Worship
Communication
Opening up involvement and participation for all
- RespectAbility’s Ensuring Virtual Events are Accessible to All Toolkit
- Website Accessibility Checklist
- gov’s Website Accessibility Basics
- Add captions to YouTube videos and how to add audio description for audio/visual materials.
- Microsoft Accessibility and Apple Accessibility provide a variety of tools to support their platforms
- National Center of Disability and Journalism’s Style Guide includes inclusive language when writing or talking about people living with disabilities
- RespectAbility’s Making Documents and Presentations Accessible for All
- RespectAbility’s Introduction to Website Accessibility: Tips and Tricks
- ADA Quick Tips for Sign Language Interpreters
- Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities
- When Listening is Complicated by Ruti Regan
- Tips for Effective Communication with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- 10 Tips for Communicating with Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
- How to Communicate with a Hearing Impaired Person
- Captioning and CART
- NJ Relay and CapTel are free services that enable people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind or those with a Speech Disability to place and receive phone calls.
- Contact Greater MetroWest ABLE at [email protected] for a list of local ASL interpreters in the area.
Worship and Ritual
We are all created in the image of G-d
- Synagogue Self–Assessment Tool from looks at Synagogue Life: Attitudes, Practices, and Policies
- Jewish Texts on Disability Inclusion
- RespectAbility’s Jewish Community Inclusion Resources
- Training for B’nai Mitzvah Tutors: Essential for Inclusion
- Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month Resources
- Gateways Shabbat and Holiday Resources
- Matan’s Shabbat and Holiday Resources
- Matan’s D’var Torah Project links the weekly parsha to disability inclusion
- RespectAbility has many faith and inclusion resources
- Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project provides several useful links to guide congregational inclusion
- The Hebrew song Ani v’ata, You and I (Will Change the World) presented with sign language interpretation
- Rabbi Darby Leigh teaches the Shema in sign language
- Disabilty Inclusion Resource Guide for Rabbis created by Yachad/National Jewish Council for Disabilities
- Explore Prayers in Hebrew and American Sign Language by Rabbi Darby Leigh and Jewish Heritage and Holidays in ASL as an informative resource and as a way to encourage communication for all.
- Keshet’s poster shows 7 Jewish values that create inclusive communities
- AAIDD Religion & Spirituality – working to foster opportunities for spiritual growth with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Collaborative on Faith & Disability Webinar Series provides a collection of webinars focused on disability, religion, and inclusive supports
- Autism Speaks – Blue Blessings provides faith based resources for families and organizations supporting individuals with autism
Volunteer and Employment
Expanding opportunities for all is good for business
- Employment Inclusion is Essential for JESPY House Clients
- JESPY’s Work Readiness & Employment Engagement Program
- JESPY Volunteers Earn Paychecks at Daughters
- Abilities over Disabilities Vocational Organizations Give Persons with Autism a Chance
- Jewish Vocational Service of NJ – Vocational Rehabilitation Resources
- JSDD Volunteers at the Community Food Bank of NJ
- JSDD’s Wae Center provides alternative employment opportunities
- Situational Tool for Exploring Possibilities by the Elizabeth Boggs Center
- Diversity and Inclusion Employment Resources
- APSE Employment First Resources
- Mixing in Accessibility: An Employer’s Crucial Ingredient for Success – A few tricks for increasing accessibility in the workplace
- Job Accommodation Network for information about workplace accommodations
- Project SEARCH – a one-year transition program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with programs with local businesses
- Resources from the Office of Disability Employment Policy, US Department of Labor
- ADA Resources for Employees and Employers
- Project HIRE – a supported employment program designed to connect people with disabilities to integrated employment opportunities in their community
- What Can You Do? Disability Employment Advocacy Videos
- Let’s Work! Documentary
- Mental Health in the Workplace
- Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace