There Was Something About Joseph – Parashat Vayeishev
There was something about Joseph. He didn’t seem able to keep up with his brothers. He couldn’t control himself. He often blurted out statements that were alternatively unfunny, [...]
In My Child’s Own Words – A Parent’s Perspective
When I first started blogging, I had many reservations about sharing details about our family, particularly about Rafi. Although I feel it is important to be transparent and open about our [...]
Sharing Our Child’s Diagnosis With Him – A Parent’s Perspective
We never had a plan for how or when we would tell Rafi that he was on the autism spectrum. It was not something we spent a lot of time considering because it almost seemed beside the point. Rafi [...]
Everyone Has Something to Learn, Everyone Has Something to Teach
In Pirkei Avot Ben Zoma said: “Who is wise? One who learns from every person.” This is a central Jewish value. Everyone has something to learn, and everyone has something to teach. Some people [...]
Stop. Breathe. Relax…and Become Inspired
The songs have changed. The dance moves are different. I guess you could say an awful lot has changed in these last ten years of Camp Yofi at Ramah Darom. It’s hard to remember what it was like [...]
My Son Has Tourette’s But He’s Not Broken, So Stop Treating Him That Way
Powerful ELI Talk by Pamela Schuller, NFTY-GER Regional Director of Youth Engagement and Inclusion Specialist for URJ Youth Programs When my son, Ben, was a kid, a few times a year, he would get [...]
Parashat Va-et’nachan – Teach These Words Diligently To Your Children
During the month of February (Jewish Disability Awareness Month) Matan shares a weekly d’var torah linking inclusion to the upcoming Torah portion. We say often that JDAM may only be one month, [...]
Abilities vs. Disabilities
I am such a proud mother. My kids are simply fantastic and I love them to the moon and back. They continually surprise and amaze me; every day I learn something new from them. I’m pleased to [...]
From Camper to Professional: The Other Side of the Coin
The following article was written by Orlee Krass, Director of Education, for GLEANINGS: Dialogue on Jewish Education from The Davidson School of the Jewish Theological Seminary. My journey into [...]
The Favorite Student
The following post originally ran on Zeh Lezeh, the blog of the Ruderman Family Foundation. My son, Benji, was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder at the age of two and a half. One of the [...]
Crafted by Cornershop