Jewish Abilities Atlanta

Jewish Abilities Atlanta was proud to support an event that brought Paralympian Champion Shireen Sapiro to speak to the Chabad of Dunwoody community. Her story of turning tragedy into triumph transformed mindsets and amplified the voices of future disabled athletes. Thank you, Shireen, for sharing your incredible journey with us!

Image Description 1: Paralympian Shireen Sapiro speaking at the podium at the Beijing Paralympics.

Image Description 2: Rabbi Mendy Wineberg leading an on-stage interview with Shireen.

Image description 3: Shireen with microphone sitting.

Image description 4: Shireen holding medals.

Did you know? JF&CS is offering a free Supported Employment Workshop series? Check it out:

What is Supported Employment?
Supported Employment helps individuals with disabilities to find and sustain meaningful employment within their communities. Disabilities include physical, mental health, intellectual and/or developmental.

What is Skills 4 Success?
It's a FREE virtual 6-week group training program for Jewish individuals with disabilities.

When is it?
Tuesdays 6 - 7 PM | on Zoom | Week 6 in-person at JF&CS
Week 1: September 3
Week 2: September 10
Week 3: September 17
Week 4: September 24
Week 5: October 1
Week 6: October 8

The 6th and final session will be held in person at JF&CS for participants to receive their certificate of completion and to enjoy light refreshments. Loved ones are encouraged to attend this final session!

How do I apply?
Visit jfcsatl.org/success to fill out the form.

Questions?
Email Lillian Gibson, MRC, Director of Supported Employment, at [email protected]

Image description: JF&CS supported employment workshop announcement. Includes six sessions on zoom.

GO TEAM ISRAEL! StandWithUs TeamIsrael
NBC Olympics & Paralympics

Image description: Group of Paralympian Israelis ready to kick off the Paralympics 2024.

Team Israel is on their way to the opening ceremony at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games! Good luck to you all, we know you will make us proud! 🇮🇱

This morning, Lindsey traveled to Temple Beth Tikvah Preschool in Roswell to teach best practices for neuro-affirming classrooms. Temple Beth Tikvah Preschool teachers are always curious about disability inclusion. JAA is amazed to see such passion for learning and exploration in creating a school of belonging in their community. It’s a joy to work with your dedicated team of educators! 🍎📚

Image description: Lindsey presenting a workshop through an engaging discussion on reframing classroom scenarios.

Let's thrive together! Follow for tips, training opportunities, events, and more.

Image description: Jewish Abilities Atlanta initiative social media information.

Join us this week to kick off celebrating the start of Paralympics with Chabad of Dunwoody and Shireen Sapiro.

From Tragedy to Triumph
South African Paralympic swimmer Shireen Sapiro's story of strength & determination in the face of adversity.


THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
7:30 PM Dessert Reception
8:00 PM Talk followed by Q & A Led by AJC Reporter Greg Bluestein.
Dunwoody Nature Center Pavilion
5343 Roberts Dr, Dunwoody
$10 per person
RSVP at www.chabaddunwoody.com/triumph
For more info 770-906-0998

Image Description: Program event flyer.

PJ parents, you don’t have to wait long for our next parents’ night out!!

Let’s kick off the Jewish new year with games, cheers and great company! Catch all the Thursday night football action on the big screen at Cadranel’s Corner. Moms and Dads, grab your friends and come play with PJ for an unforgettable night of fun.

There will be instructors on site to help too 😄

Register here: https://jewishatlanta.org/event/pjlibrary-sports-and-spirits-night/ 🍎 🏓

SAVE THE DATE! There will be an event at the Carter Center on October 28th to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with the Advancing Employment team.

Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Georgia Options, Inc.
Georgia Advocacy Office
Uniting for Change
Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency - GVRA
Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity

Check out this amazing video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPqir3EZolw

Audio description version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0kSB94VWhg

The Relay (Audio Descriptions) | Apple Apple products are designed for every body. Whether you’re a sprinter, wheelchair racer, track cyclist, or swimmer, features like the Workout app on Apple Wa...

Register for the free webinars in October from the Marcus Autism Center! The series is open to all caregivers who want to learn strategies to help their young children with communication, behavior, and toilet training. Register: https://t.gsu.edu/4fOM5bh

Skills 4 Success✨ Meaningful employment for Jewish individuals with disabilities. Participants will learn the skills for success in a virtual group setting. starting September 3rd✨

The 6th and final session will be held in person at JF&CS for participants to receive their certificate of completion and to enjoy light refreshments. Loved ones are encouraged to attend this final session!

JF&CS Supported Employment helps individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities to find and sustain meaningful employment within their communities.

Apply here: jfcsatl.org/success

Please share with your networks🧡

JF&CS Career Services Jewish Abilities Atlanta

Book the Illustrated Torah for your classroom activity or B mitzvah! Contact Lindsey Flax at [email protected] to reserve this unique piece of art, created by artist Michal Meron.

Image description: Torah illustrated design.

Securing the Future: Vision, Decisions, & Advocacy

About: This workshop is designed for parents of young adults with disabilities ages 14-25 who are wondering what comes next in their child’s life. Whether it is entering high school, preparing to graduate, planning for work, or additional education, this workshop is for you.

Location: Neighborhood Church, 1561 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Date and time: Wed, Aug 28, 2024 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Organizer: Leslie Lipson, [email protected]

Sign up here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/bwq64uk?source_id=6f19a087-1286-4eaa-afea-87ae55f9b511&source_type=em&c=ucCu3Md9iHxQE8Yu-6vEo5qN9pywoZnI3I3YU-QS13FBks8lZ4wjmQ==

Lipson Advocacy: Educational, Legal and Strategy Specialist

I Decide Georgia

Image Description: Workshop flyer for Securing the Future: Vision, Decisions, & Advocacy.

Lindsey and Amy were excited to partner with TOM Fellows at Emory Conference Center today, discussing how to make sure people with disabilities are included in every space in our community. The fellows gained valuable insights on being true disability allies.

Image description 1: Lindsey speaking in front of an audience.

Image description 2: Amy introducing the training to the audience.

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

TOM Tikkun Olam Makers

Friendship Circle does an amazing job of ensuring everyone belongs!

Torah thought through the lens of inclusion ✨

The Jews stand ready to enter the Holy Land. In preparation, Moshe uses lottery to apportion the land by each tribe. Every man in that tribe would get a portion of that area, and upon their death, their sons would inherit that piece of land, so it would remain in that tribe’s portion.

Tzelafchad had no sons.
He had five daughters who just as fiercely desired a piece of the Holy Land, ensuring their father’s lot remain his portion even after he would pass on.
They went to Moshe and shared their rational and emotional request that they be assigned a portion of land, too.

Moshe took their plea to G-d. G-d said they are correct! And law changed that if a man had no sons, his daughters would inherit his land.

When a person is born with a physical, mental, developmental mutation, why should they be any less included in their wider Jewish community?
Why would they be any less deserving of a friend, of being welcomed into the synagogue and community events, of being invited over, of being approached with curiosity rather than judgement?

Everyone is included in this lottery.
Everyone should be included in this lottery.
Everyone, every individual and family, deserves to feel a part of the community.
And they shouldn’t have to stand up for themselves and demand that; we should all be providing that space for each other.

It might be out of our comfort zone, we might not know how to take that first step, or don’t feel confident to.
Try it! Doing something ultimately kind, holy and true will only feel good!

Greet a family you don’t usually greet, sit next to the classmate you don’t usually sit next to, discuss with your children how we might look or think or behave differently than another child, but we offer kindness and gentility.

When we all do this together, the world becomes one big Friendship Circle. And that’s how G-d intended for the world to be!

Xoxo,
Chanky

Candle lighting time tonight is 8:19 pm.
Shabbat shalom ✨

Accessibility at MACoM At MACoM, inclusivity is our priority. We look forward to welcoming you.

Tomorrow Tuesday!

Parents Webinar coming in Zoom! *Registration link in comments

Here's more information about the webinar:

Session Title: Supported Decision-Making: What do you know? What do you need to know?

Session Description:
I DECIDE Georgia is a coalition of advocates, organizations, and allies who believe that every adult can make important life decisions, supported by people they trust, in order to live a life of dignity and autonomy. This session is designed specifically for people with disabilities, their families, and supporters to explore the variety of decision-making options available to support a full, meaningful, and good life. We will discuss the principles of Supported Decision-Making, ideas for practice, and some of the unintended consequences of guardianship. Attendees will also hear from a Youth Ambassador and their family about their lived experience using Supported Decision-Making.

Bio: Dana Lloyd is a seasoned human services professional with over two decades of dedicated experience in progressive social justice leadership. With a strong commitment to advocating for and serving individuals who are societally distanced and devalued, Dana strives to mitigate individual and systemic harm experienced by people with disabilities. Dana currently serves as director of Community Engagement and Outreach at the Georgia Advocacy Office, Georgia’s Protection and Advocacy system. This is a new role after 3 years as the director Developmental Disabilities program. Dana also leads Georgia’s Supported Decision-Making coalition and is a state team lead for the Administration on Community Living’s Center on Youth Voice Youth Choice, a national youth-led Supported Decision-Making Project.