OK, so the macaroni and cheese as vegetable story was in my last post, but I still think it’s funny and endearing and altogether unusual. I personally think the restaurant was so busy that they ran out of peas and carrots and maybe broccoli and had to substitute it with a side. Yep, that makes sense to me. Did I ever tell you that I was once in the restaurant business myself?

People used to ask me why just a single month was designated by the Jewish Special Education International Consortium (of which I am a proud member in good stead!!). I love those folks because they get that inclusion is not just month long, but lifelong.Yet so many Jewish organizations could be rated on the oblivious scale-you know, totally, mostly, often, somewhat, and occasionally-that designating a month of obvious focus on what the essence of inclusion is seemed completely appropriate. Happily, JDAM as we call it has gone pretty much viral. It’s more likely than not that your synagogue, school, community center, agency is recognizing the significant role that inclusion of people with disabilities plays in our lives during February.
My BIG challenge to you is simply this: What role do you play in March, April, May…you get it?
I can’t wait to share some of the great activities and practices going on for JDAM. Most of these are things you can adopt and adapt to your own community any time of the year.
Whatever you do during JDAM, remember to plan for the rest of the year. Awareness-raising is year long too!
Shabbat Shalom!!! Shelly