Jun 16, 2020
Jewish Abilities Alliance Helps Build an Inclusive Jewish Community
With the idea to build a more inclusive Jewish community, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation recently launched Miami.JewishAbilities.org, a user-friendly gateway that links individuals with disabilities and their families to services, support and resources. This website — the first of its kind in Miami — developed out of a grassroots effort of families who recognized a community need.
In an example of activism at its best, Ben Berman, Michelle Saka and Avigayil Shaffren, organized a series of three informational meetings for Miami-Dade families with children with special needs. More than 100 people attended, offering input and suggestions while sharing their struggles to find support and navigate the medical, social and emotional needs of their children. “Caring for special needs children is a long and winding road,” Berman said. “We all need a support system.”
Following the meetings, Berman, Saka and Shaffren brought the concerns of the group to Federation with the mission to improve what is available in the Jewish community. “Even with such a large Jewish population, there was almost nothing for our children,” Shaffren said. “We knew that something needed to change.” The trio met with Federation leaders to discuss how the organization could help. “We didn’t want to reinvent the wheel,” Berman said. “Creating a resource site is a necessary step. Parents can’t Google everything they need.”
The website offers a one-stop, cohesive reference portal on educational options, accessibility tools, support groups, programming and timely suggestions to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
“Miami is still a work in progress when it comes to serving our special needs community, but the website is making information more accessible,” Saka added. “It is about getting our voices heard.”
Coupled with the website is Greater Miami Jewish Federation Inclusion Specialist, Nancy Zaretsky, MA, a long time community advocate and parent to an adult on the Spectrum, who helps guide families like hers through the array of social services and support groups. The website is an important first step in creating community and learning from shared experiences to help one another.
