Building Inclusive Communities
One in five. That’s the number of people with disabilities in the United States today. Matan enables Jewish professionals, communities and families to create and sustain inclusive settings in educational, communal and spiritual aspects of Jewish life.
Who We Are
Changing the Landscape of Disability Inclusion
Matan was created in the year 2000 to address the lack of Jewish educational opportunities afforded to children with special needs. Originally created as a “direct service” organization for children in the New York metro area, Matan’s efforts now support professional educators, lay leaders, clergy, administrators and others in addressing the needs of individuals with a wide variety of learning, developmental and mental health challenges. Matan focuses on helping communities understand their inclusion needs, enabling them to establish and meet goals, and training Jewish communal leaders and educators in inclusive practices.
Stats
- The U.S. Department of Labor reports 1 in 4 Americans have a disability.1 in 5 American adults live with a mental health condition.
- 1 in 44 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- 15% of youth ages 3-21 receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Applications available in August 2022
Matan Institute for Education & Youth Directors, Cohort 13 IN PERSON!
The Matan Institute is Matan’s flagship training program for Jewish professionals. Matan works with various cohorts of educators, including Education Directors, teachers, youth group and camp professionals. Each cohort engages in multiple in-person training days (35 hours) and on-line learning, and every participant works with a Matan mentor on specific inclusion goals for the entire length of the Institute (usually 10 months). Based at Matan’s offices in New York City or a specific geographic region, professionals from throughout North America participate.
Crafted by Cornershop