Celebrating JDAIM 2026: Advances in Year-Round Disability Programming
The National Ramah Tikvah Network offers many year-round virtual and in-person opportunities for Ramah alumni with disabilities and their families to engage with their Ramah community. Since 2020, our year-round initiatives have served more than 150 adults with disabilities and more than 150 parents/guardians. To mark the end of JDAIM 2026, we are pleased to share reflections from our 2025–2026 parent and Tikvah alumni initiatives.
Tikvah Alumni & Families Shabbaton
Our first-ever Tikvah Alumni & Families Shabbaton took place from November 14–15, 2025. We welcomed 35 Tikvah alumni, parents/guardians, and staff from Ramah Canada, New England, Nyack, Poconos, and Wisconsin for a weekend of engaging programming. Highlights included Tikvah alumni reading from the Torah and having aliyot along with the Westchester Jewish Center (WJC) congregation, a two-hour workshop for parents on planning for the future, Tikvah alumni welcoming WJC congregants into the Tikvah oneg they led, and a fun-filled peulat erev with dancing, glow sticks, and games.
Parents reflected on the value Ramah brings to their family, with one parent sharing, “I think the camp experience for [my young adult son] has really helped him along the road to independence, and these ongoing experiences encourage him even more.” One parent reflected, “Raising and supporting a child with special needs is a lonely experience. I felt incredibly strengthened, touched, and most importantly, understood by my fellow parents.”
Tikvah alumni and parents benefited from the structured programming, but also from the many informal opportunities to schmooze, make new friends, and learn from one another. When Tikvah alumni described the Shabbaton, they shared “it was happiness,” and that they “loved seeing [my] old camp friends in person after five years, but really loved meeting everyone from the other camps in person and making new friends.” We look forward to expanding our ability to serve more families through future in-person initiatives.
TikvahNet
TikvahNet, our year-round Zoom-based programming hub for Ramah Tikvah alumni, continues to run programs in its sixth year. More than 60 Ramah Tikvah alumni registered for our 2025–2026 TikvahNet offerings, and we continue to welcome new attendees each year. Participants are encouraged to lead programs themselves to develop leadership and program-planning skills. Participant-led programs this year included a TikvahNet talent show, gratitude activity, and guided meditation.
In our December 2025 TikvahNet survey, participants shared how they “look forward to [TikvahNet] all week,” that it is “so much fun,” and “[makes] me feel happy.” One participant shared, “TikvahNet sessions have always meant a lot to me. I enjoy the programming that happens each time we meet.” We are excited for our remaining Winter 2026 TikvahNet programs.
Tikvah Family Speaker Series
Our first Tikvah Family Speaker Series program of 2026, “A Focus on Financial Planning," welcomed over thirty families of Ramah Tikvah alumni to learn from financial advisors Stephen Ehrens and Eric Goldsmith. We are excited to offer two more programs in March and April 2026, with our next program titled “Closing the Inclusion Gap: What Families Experience and What Needs to Change” with Matan.
Our speaker series began in 2023 with the aim of engaging parents, guardians, or other family members of Tikvah alumni to discuss meaningful topics related to adulthood and transition planning. Each call includes a guest speaker, a question and answer period, and the opportunity to stay on the call to more informally discuss the topic with other family members of Tikvah alumni.
In our April 2025 survey, attendees shared that programs are "outstanding, well run [and] truthful,” and that “all [programs] were extremely informative! You always hear something new even if you think you are familiar with the topic.”
