BEINEINU NEWS & NOTES
March 7, 2013
INTERNATIONAL
Down Syndrome Amongst Us—Sara Sander, publisher of the popular “Down Syndrome Amongst Us” has informed us that they will be publishing their magazine a few times a year as a supplement to Bina Magazine. It will be available internationally, wherever Bina is sold. The first issue will be published for Shavuos.
If you have articles or ads that you would like to submit to their publication, contact
USA
Synagogue Inclusion Grants--MetroWest ABLE is accepting applications for Synagogue ABLE Challenge Grants to promote inclusion in Greater MetroWest synagogue life for individuals and families with special needs. Open to all Greater MetroWest area congregations, the grants can be used for building enhancements, programs, and/or enhanced services for people with special needs and their families that allow them greater accessibility to the synagogue community. Projects are to be completed by June 30, 2014.
To be eligible, synagogue leadership must have completed the “How Inclusive Are We?” synagogue self-assessment tool within the past two years or by the March 22 application deadline. Grants are awarded with an understanding that the congregation is a partner with MetroWest ABLE in providing the services. The synagogue’s contribution may be in-kind; the ABLE contribution per synagogue will be $3,000-$5,000.
The application deadline is Friday, March 22, 2013. Synagogue ABLE Challenge Grants are funded by Federation, the Linda Bunis Haller Foundation, and the Ruderman Family Foundation.
For further information, and for applications and the self-assessment tool, visit www.metrowestable.org or contact Rebecca Wanatick, MetroWest ABLE community coordinator, at (973) 929-3129 or
Architectural Barrier Complaints—An online form is available to file complaints about architectural barriers in public buildings or facilities that were designed, built, altered, or paid for with Federal funding. This includes post offices, social security offices, government office buildings, many schools, train stations, jails, court houses, and public housing. To file a complaint, visit www.access-board.gov/enforce.htm.
Foundation for Jewish Camp Survey for Families--If you are the parent of a child with a disability/special need(s) who applied to, goes, or went to a non-profit Jewish overnight camp, or if you are a person with a disability who is a camper or camp alumni at a Jewish overnight camp - your opinion is wanted and needed! Can you please fill out the survey linked to below?
Also, if you know others who are parents of a camper with a disabilities/special need, or campers themselves, can you forward this to them? We need feedback and advice on overnight Jewish camping for children with disabilities/special needs. Please note that there are 3 survey's being done at the same time - camp staff, parents of campers, and campers themselves. As the language of some of the questions must be identical so we can compare apples to apples, sometimes you may find that the questions are more specific to one of the other groups. But do your best to choose the answers that are closest to your views. And note the open ended section for your comments. FJC is pleased to be the recipient of a research grant to map current services available to children with special needs and physical disabilities at nonprofit Jewish overnight camps across North America. In order to locate the gaps, establish where and how the needs can be filled, and develop more resources for camps, we need your help. If you are a camp staff member, parent of a camper, a camper, or alumnus please take a few minutes to help us address this important topic in our community: http://surveys.polling.net/Survey3.aspx?sID=52023176
DHS/DDS New Jersey Resource Directory- http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dds/home/RD%202012-HR.pdf