Organizations

Alexander Institute of Jewish Family Service of Houston: Also see their Celebration Company website. Celebration Company provides meaningful employment to help people with special needs who - with joy, purpose & self-esteem create products that celebrate the good in life.

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): Sign up for AAPD News - a weekly email newsletter.

Brain Injury Association of America: Phone: 800.444.6443

Council of Canadians with Disabilities

Interfaith Disability Connection: A program of the Bobby Dodd Institute, Mark Crenshaw, Director. Phone: 678.365.0071, Fax: 678.365.0098

The Jewish Federations of North America

Jewish Guild for the Blind

Union for Reform Judaism

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Yachad/National Jewish Council for Disabilities: An agency of the Orthodox Union. Read this article: The Power of Belonging: Welcoming Jews With Disabilities Into Jewish Communal Life. Phone: 212-613-8229 

Resources

A Part or Apart? by Jane Strauss: Images of people with disabilities included in their faith community with commentary on issues of disability and inclusion. Discussion Guide: Everybody's Talking about A Part or Apart? by Jane Strauss. Includes three discussion guides (for children, adults & leadership).

Bankshot Sports Organization: "Total-Mix Sports based on Universal Design"

Brain Injury: When the Call Comes - A Congregational Resource: 28-page booklet developed in collaboration with the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey and the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities.

BrainLine.org: A national multimedia project offering information and resources about preventing, treating and living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Phone: 703-998-2020, Email: info@BrainLine.org

Camps and Israel Special Needs Program (URJ) 

Camp Ramah/Tikvah Program

Down Syndrome Among Us: Jewish publication about persons with Down Syndrome. 

Inclusion Innovations: Shelly Christensen, Consultant. Inclusion of people with disabilities in sacred communities. 

Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition (IDAC): Ginny Thornburgh, Director, AAPD Interfaith Initiative. Email: gthornburgh@aapd.com, Phone: 202.521.4311, Facebook page

JBI International: Jewish materials in Braille and on tape for persons with vision impairment.

The Jewish Community Guide to Inclusion of People with Disabilities by Shelly Christensen

Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month facebook page

Jewish Perspective on Theology and the Human Experience of Disability. Edited by William C. Gaventa, MDiv and Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams, PhD. 

Jewish Special Education International Consortium 

Journal of Religion, Disability & Health 

Judaism and Disability: Portrayals in Ancient Texts from the Tanach through the Bavli by Judith Abrams, Gallaudet University Press.

No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement by Joseph P. Shapiro, Three Rivers Press.

Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism: Click on "Action Alerts." Read the "RAC Blog." Also see the RAC's disability rights page for links to websites on programming and education. For information on disability legislative issues, contact Raechel Banks at rbanks@rac.org

Rosh Pina supports Jewish institutions in becoming Cornerstone Certified and offers a way for organizations to meet the needs of Jews with developmental delays in a truly inclusive way.

That All May Worship: An Interfaith Welcome to People with Disabilities: Available at AAPD Interfaith Initiative. Ginny Thornburgh, Director, Email: gthornburgh@aapd.com, Phone : 202.521.4311. 

Torah At the Center: "Inclusion". Published by the Union for Reform Judaism

Who Makes People Different: Jewish Perspectives on People with Disabilities: Available at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Department of Youth Activities, Phone : 800.594.5617, Fax: 212.253.5422 or Email:booksvc@uscj.org

Films/DVDs/Narratives

Autism! The Musical: An HBO documentary focusing on five children and their parents as they participate in a "groundbreaking theatrical workshop."

Autistic License: A docu-drama, true-to-life play on raising a child with autism.

Back Walking Forward: A documentary film by Kavery Kaul tells an inspiring story about the aftermath of brain injury.

Brain Injury Dialogues: A documentary film by Lyell Davies and Rick Franklin .

Front of the Class DVD based on the book, Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had by Brad Cohen.

Including Samuel: A Documentary: by Dan Habib

Lives Worth Living: A documentary about the disability rights movement.

Now I See The Moon-A Mother, A Son and the Miracle of Autism by Elaine Hall.

Praying with Lior: A documentary film chronicling the life of Lior Liebling, a boy with Down syndrome as he prepares for his Bar Mitzvah. The movie poses difficult questions such as what is "disability" and who really talks to God.

Reel Abilities Disabilities Film Festival. See website for a variety of films.

Riding the Bus with My Sister: DVD based on the book by Rachel Simon.

Shooting Beauty: A documentary film that tells the story of an aspiring fashion photographer whose life is transformed when she starts a photography program for individuals with disabilities.

Sproutflix.org: "Making the Invisible Visible" Short films of artistry and intellect from around the world related to the lives, performances and accomplishments of people with developmental disabilities.

The Story of a Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon tells a moving story of the improbable odds faced by a disabled couple and a lost child. 

Video on inclusion of people with disabilities: Bet Shalom Congregation, Minnetonka, MN.

For Children

My Invisible World, Life with My Brother, His Disability and His Service Dog by 11 year old Morasha Winokur and Nuzzle-Love Between a Boy and His Service Dog by Donnie Kanter Winoku.

What's Wrong with Timmy? By Maria Shriver. A story of a girl who notices a boy who looks and behaves differently from the other children in her class. Kate is introduced to Timmy and the seeds of a friendship are planted.