Better Integrating the Disabilities Community
As part of our commitment to enhance the lives of adults and children with disabilities, we are actively supporting a range of innovative projects with organizations that focus on integrating them into society and minimizing their feelings of loneliness.
Successful Run in Boston: ReelAbilities Film Fest
Thanks to a new investment by the Ruderman Family Foundation, this winter Boston-area audiences were able to screen the groundbreaking ReelAbilities: A Disabilities Film Festival. This series of powerful and inspirational contemporary films promotes both awareness and appreciation of those living with disabilities. Throughout February, National Jewish Disability Awareness Month, the Boston Jewish Film Festival showed the films and hosted public programs throughout the area. Originating at the Manhattan JCC, ReelAbilities, a Saul Schottenstein Foundation B traveling program, is also visiting Cincinnati, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, DC and Fairfax and Richmond, Virginia.
“Significant Others:” Easing the Path of Love for Israelis with Disabilities
Physically disabled adults rarely have the opportunity to meet friends much less find a life partner, often meaning an isolated and lonely future. Now, with the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation, Shalheveth’s “Significant Others” Project helps Israelis with disabilities establish and nurture romantic relationships. Through workshops conducted with The Center for Independent Living, as well as one-on-one counseling by both a social worker and a personal coach, “Significant Others” will give people with disabilities living in Jerusalem’s Shalheveth Apartments and in the larger community new skills for establishing and sustaining loving relationships. In addition, Romantic Interludes, a short documentary film about the project, will show on local TV, raising awareness of — and sensitivity to — the needs of people with disabilities and their capacity for love and companionship.
Bizchut’s “Inclusion Index”
The Inclusion Index, a joint venture between the Ruderman Family Foundation and Bizchut, the Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities, is designed to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in mainstream society. The Index will raise public awareness by documenting and reporting on the levels of inclusion of people with all types of disabilities living in five Israeli communities by examining a number of indicators (education, housing, employment and accessibility). Each year, Index results will be made public, tracing that year’s successes — and failures — in reaching this vulnerable population. To maximize public awareness, a media release will coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3).
Access Israel’s “Accessibility for All”
Hundreds of Israeli middle-schoolers will emerge from the next school year with a heightened sensitivity to the dignity, rights and needs of people with disabilities, thanks to a new Ruderman Family Foundation-supported program. Access Israel, an Israeli non-profit working to fully integrate those with disabilities into mainstream society, will run the program, introducing students to community residents with disabilities and organizing the students into group projects. Working together on these projects, the lifelong attitudes of the new generation of Israelis will begin to shift, inspiring both awareness and commitment for them, their families and ultimately their communities, and creating a more inclusive future.
Kesher’s “Parents United” Project
Based on the widespread understanding that motivated, empowered and involved parents are the most influential force determining the future of a child with a disability, these mothers and fathers first need to acquire the tools to succeed. “Parents United” is an innovative project designed to create cohesive, transformative communities for these families. It’s administered by the Israeli non-profit Kesher with the support of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, JDC-Israel, the Ruderman Family Foundation and the Yosftal Institute. This is a period of rapid growth for “Parents United” — by 2012 there are projected to be “Centers for Special Families” established in communities across Israel.
ISEF Ruderman Scholars Program
Through close collaboration with the ISEF Foundation, the Ruderman Family Foundation is sponsoring a joint program to help promote the academic advancement of students who are studying in fields that help individuals with special needs. The program is raising awareness on two levels: by providing educational scholarships, and by hosting a conference that encourages a deeper understanding of special needs within the Israeli academic community.
Kamah Association’s “House at the Gilboa”
The Ruderman Family Foundation is proud to be a sponsor of the House at the Gilboa, a home for women with disabilities who come from religious homes. This unique residence was founded by the Kamah Association, an Israeli nonprofit serving at-risk children and adults with disabilities, at Kibbutz Merav in the Gilboa Mountains. The House has a rich menu of therapeutic and vocational services, and cultural and artistic offerings. There is also a sizable on-site garden where residents grow crops as well as confidence and self-esteem, enabling each one to reach her highest potential for a full and independent life.
Camp Ramah ‘Shabbos is Calling’ Program
‘Shabbos is Calling’ is making it possible for children with special needs in Camp Ramah’s Tikvah program to connect socially year-round, minimizing the loneliness and isolation they often feel. With our support, campers have the unique opportunity to link up through video and sing Shabbat songs, hear stories of weekly Torah portions, and share memories with their Jewish friends. This program, which spans across four Ramah camps in New England, California, Wisconsin, and Canada, provides an invaluable social outlet that truly benefits these children’s lives.
Krembo Wings Youth Movement
When a young person has a disability, making friends can be both challenging and discouraging. The Ruderman Family Foundation is proud to support the national youth group Krembo Wings. With its full calendar of social and recreational activities, Krembo Wings fills a huge gap in the lives of these young people who would otherwise miss out on any interaction with peers outside of their school day. With 700 counselors and teen volunteers bringing their energy and enthusiasm to the cause, Krembo Wings engages more than 350 children and young adults with disabilities in 12 Israeli communities in weekly social activities, filling their lives with both fun and a sense of belonging.
Shutaf Vocational Training Program
Together with Shutaf, a Jerusalem-based education program, the Ruderman Family Foundation is supporting a young leadership training program that gives teenagers with and without disabilities the skills, self-confidence, mentoring, and guidance they need to begin preparing for adulthood. The vocational program provides an excellent, hands-on learning opportunity while emphasizing the important Jewish values of acceptance and understanding.
LOTEM Integrated Nature Program, Israel
Designed to help children with disabilities enjoy the outdoors, LOTEM’s wonderful new pilot program is offering educational activities in nature to mixed groups of children from special education and regular school systems. This program, which we’ve funded, is making great strides in helping all children understand the difficulties that children with special needs face when hiking, taking field trips, and participating in other nature outings.
Friendship Circle of Miami Integrated Special Needs Program
Our close involvement with the Friendship Circle is helping to address the many challenges facing families of children with special needs. By supporting a program that allows these children to interact with and engage in social activities with teenage volunteers, we’re giving these children a chance move past their disabilities, build enduring friendships with mentors, and get the unconditional support they deserve.
MESHLAVIM: The Program for National Civic Service for Young People with Disabilities and Change in Public Awareness
As part of its mission to inspire citizens across Israel to volunteer their time and skills through the National Civic Service throughout Israel and the Diaspora, Bat Ami has partnered with the Gvanim Association which runs numerous programs for young people with disabilities. For the past 11 years, the two organizations have jointly run a unique program where more than 300 of these young people, all of whom are exempted from regular military service, are now able to contribute to their communities and their country through meaningful National Civic Service. As the program integrates these young adults into society, the work they do becomes both a bridge into society and the workplace and a powerful lesson to Israelis that someone with a disability can still contribute to the greater good and is an important part of the community.