How My Son Finally Opened Up About His Little Brother With Special Needs

The first time I remember talking to Oscar about his younger brother Saul’s special needs, he couldn’t have been more than 5 years old. Definitely still in preschool. There was something–though I can’t remember exactly what–that Oscar thought Saul would like and he said, “Saul is going to do this!” and started flapping his hands and bouncing up and down. I lost it. I couldn’t believe my sweet little boy was making fun of his younger brother who has Fragile X, which is a genetic syndrome and the cause of intellectual disabilities that can include learning problems, autism, anxiety, sensory, and behavioral issues.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/Reflections, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterApril 30, 2014Tikvah, New England

Memories For Everyone

Children and youth in the U.S. have already internalized inclusion. They live it every day at school, on the playground, at youth groups. To them, inclusion is the norm. This is mainly because the national culture in the U.S. has surpassed the American Jewish community in its embrace of inclusion.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterApril 6, 2014Tikvah, Ruderman Foundation

Tikvah Means Hope

Our family spent last weekend at Camp Ramah in New England’s first-ever Tikvah Family Shabbaton. Tikvah is Ramah’s special needs program. It is unique among Jewish camps. Within the Tikvah program at Ramah, children with all types of disabilities are welcomed and supported. The Tikvah program is the main reason we selected Ramah for S’s first camp experience this summer.

Tikvah/Special NeedsNRC WebmasterApril 2, 2014Tikvah, New England

What It’s All About – Lessons from the FJC Leaders Assembly

I was beaming with Ramah pride as I learned from and shared with camp professionals during the Foundation for Jewish Camp Leaders Assembly last week.

I was inspired by the many voices around the table, I was moved by the wide variety of camps that were represented, and I was encouraged by the number of people talking about inclusion.

Everyone wanted to think together about how to increase the opportunities for inclusion of children with disabilities at their camps.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterMarch 31, 2014California, Tikvah

The Inclusion Solution

Teens welcome with open arms people with differences.

Tikvah/Special NeedsNRC WebmasterMarch 14, 2014Tikvah

Jewish Camps Welcoming More Children With Disabilities

In the late 1960s, when husband-and-wife team Barbara and Herb Greenberg first decided to create a Jewish overnight summer camp program for developmentally disabled children, it was hard to find a camp willing to host it.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterFebruary 19, 2014Tikvah

Sensing Israel

Can young adults with disabilities truly appreciate the Israel experience? Having returned from leading a Tikvah Ramah Israel trip for twelve adults ages 18 to 40 with autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy and a range of intellectual disabilities, the answer is unequivocally YES! And there should be more opportunities for Israel trips–for all populations, following a range of models from inclusive, to family trips and more.

Tikvah/Special NeedsNRC WebmasterFebruary 18, 2014Tikvah, Israel, JDAIM

5 Reasons Parents Should Send Their Children With Disabilities to Jewish Camp

This post is part of our series dedicated to Jewish Disability Awareness Month.

Tikvah/Special NeedsNRC WebmasterFebruary 13, 2014Tikvah, JDAIM

Jewish Day Camp Was No Problem for My Daughter With Special Needs

As part of our month-long series dedicated to Jewish Disability Awareness Month, Sally shares how a Jewish Day Camp diligently worked to make sure her daughter with special needs could attend and thrive.

Tikvah/Special NeedsNRC WebmasterFebruary 13, 2014Tikvah, JDAIM