- Jewish Community Guide to Inclusion of People with Disabilities No need to reinvent the wheel. The Jewish Community Guide to Inclusion of People with Disabilities is the wheel! Learn from the expert on inclusion of people with disabilities in sacred communities by owning this comprehensive “how to” guide. For all sacred communities, schools, camps, agencies and organizations interested in changing the attitudes and actions. Jewish Community Guide to Inclusion of People with Disabilities
- Read excerpts from the Jewish Community Guide to Inclusion of People with Disabilities Read an excerpt to get started on your own road to an inclusive community.
- From Invisibility to Visibly In – By Shelly Christensen and Margie (Weil) Earhart The first program of its kind, the Minneapolis Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities, has provided effective leadership for over 10 years. Read how two Jewish community agencies collaborated to create this groundbreaking program. Originally published in Jewish Communal Service.
- Torah at the Center: Inclusion
The Winter 2011 issue of this publication for Jewish educators provides articles from educators, professionals, and lay leaders from all around the Reform Movement, each addressing the topic of creating an atmosphere of inclusion in all aspects of Jewish learning. This issue also announces the new Access to Lifelong Jewish Education Task Force that Shelly Christensen co-chairs with Lisa Friedman and Rabbi Shira Joseph. Learn more in Torah at the Center!
- Modern Day Wells Fargo Wagon Signals Community Attention Employment is a key component for living a life of choice for people with disabilities. Read how Celebration Company in Houston TX is making that dream possible. Originally published in the AAIDD Religion and Spirituality Newsletter, Spring 2011.
- Bound to Succeed: Building Parent-Professional Collaboration The “Mrs. Christensen” calls usually started like this: “Mrs. Christensen, this is Jacob’s religious school teacher and I wanted to talk to you about his behavior…lack of attention…homework situation.” Learn what it takes to be the parent of a child with a disability in Shelly’s story in HaYidion, a publication of RAVSAK.
- AAIDD B’Shalom Column (Page 6) My Zaide (Yiddish for grandfather) Max used to say, “To be known, you have to be shown.” These simple words of wisdom from my immigrant Zaide define the work of inclusion. Originally published in the AAIDD Religion and Spirituality newsletter this B’Shalom column teaches us about opening our doors as our first steps.
- More information and inspiration from Shelly Travel back through the history of my work with these articles I wrote for the American Jewish World and other publications.
- Inside Leadership URJ One of the first articles Lisa Friedman and I wrote to reinforce the idea of congregational/religious school responsibility for including people with disabilities. Currently Lisa, Rabbi Shira Joseph and I co-chair the Access to Lifelong Jewish Education Task Force for the Union for Reform Judaism.
- Shelly’s work with UJA-Federation New York and Westchester is highlighted in this article by Howard Blas titled “Toward an Orthodox Community that is More Responsive to People with Special Needs.”
