Learning From Inclusion, by Sharon Shapiro
Editor’s note: This is our 400th blog post! In honor of this milestone, we asked Sharon Shapiro, Ruderman Family Foundation Trustee and Boston office director, to reflect on her work in the community over the past four years.
When my family first ventured into addressing disability issues with our philanthropy, we had a strong commitment to social justice but little personal knowledge or expertise in the field. Over the years we have learned a tremendous amount from professionals, our staff, parents of children with disabilities and most importantly, individuals with disabilities. As we have grown and learned, so have the organizations with whom we partner. Many of our partners have grown from being knowledgeable service providers to energetically promoting full inclusion on every level.
Let me share two experiences from my work in the community that have been deeply moving to me. Last winter I attended my first Shabbaton (Sabbath where programming is structured throughout the entire day for participants) sponsored by Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities; it was held in my home community of Brookline, Massachusetts. People in my community welcomed into their homes several young teens with disabilities and we paired each teen with a young adult who had experience working with teens with disabilities. I housed a young man with a physical disability who communicates nonverbally. There were three of us supporting this young man and I found it to be an incredibly challenging yet rewarding experience. My children and husband were a bit nervous around him at first, but soon felt comfortable and made him feel part of the family. This experience gave me a new perspective on the daily lives both of young adults with extensive disabilities and of their parents and caregivers.
Sharon Shapiro and Matan Koch at a recent Mayyim Hayyim event (Credit: Rebecca Sher)
The Yachad Shabbaton was attended by a group of young teens who had never been away from their parents. They enjoyed a Shabbat filled with smiles, laughs and a great time. As part of the Shabbaton we invited our congregants and people in the community to a luncheon—and over 200 people joined us. This was a perfect opportunity to showcase inclusion for our whole community. Yachad is particularly effective at recruiting typical teens from day schools and public schools who participate in all Yachad programs, including this Shabbaton. We all witnessed with satisfaction and joy the completely natural interactions between the so-called typical teens and those with disabilities. Many people thanked us for bringing this Shabbaton to our community and we are working on another one for next winter. Yachad continues to provide a wide array of inclusive social activities in greater Boston and beyond.
Every so often I get the opportunity to attend a graduation ceremony for Transitions to Work, our twelve-week job training program for young adults with disabilities. At these graduations I usually meet parents of the graduates and they often share their struggles over years of unsuccessfully seeking inclusive Jewish experiences for their kids. They express profound gratitude that their child has finally found a program where they are taught lifelong work skills and are respected and included in a work environment. These parents want what every parent wants for their kids: to be included and to live a productive life. It is deeply rewarding to know that supporting this incredible program changes individuals’ lives and families’ lives.
I could go on and on about the many other wonderful organizations and experiences I have witnessed over the years! Our local partners- who work with people with disabilities of all ages and denominations- have progressed a long way toward serving more people in more ways in all aspects of Jewish life. These organizations include Gateways: Access to Jewish Education, Mayyim Hayyim, Combined Jewish Philanthropy’s Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project, and many more. As we continue to work and learn together, we get closer to our ultimate goal of fully including people of all abilities in a thriving Jewish community.
View the original blog post on the Ruderman Family Foundation website.