Areas of Inclusion: Adults in Communal Life, Advocacy & Community Partnerships, Architectural & Physical Accommodations and Transportation, Blindness, Deafness, Parents of Children with Disabilities, Religious School, and Worship
About the Congregation
55 N. Church Lane
Broomall, PA 19008
Number of Congregants: 430
Contact Information
Inclusion Programming
Does this congregation have an inclusion committee?
Yes
Developing Our Program
The Inclusion and Special Needs Committee was established in 2013 to explore ways to make Temple Sholom in Broomall a more inclusive community. Our mission: to make Temple Sholom a place for all of us, and acceptance of people of all abilities. Our mission is to ensure that all members and guests are able to participate meaningfully in the spiritual, educational, celebratory and life event activities at the synagogue. Our vision is to ensure that the Committee will support members of our community who have disabilities, and facilitate change and educate the Temple community about issues regarding inclusion.
Number of people involved in the effort: 430
Involving People with Disabilities
Our Inclusion Committee Chairperson, and most individuals on the committee have a personal involvement with accommodations that are important and affect them and/or family members/friends.
Funding This Effort
Our efforts are funded on an as needed basis with donations for particular projects. Much of what we do does not involve any additional expense to the congregation. In addition, we have an Inclusion and Special Needs Donation Fund to which our congregants and others donate on a regular basis.
Helpful Agencies & Organizations
We have worked with Jewish Learning Venture, Jewish Federation, URJ and Keshet. These organizations have been vital to our growth, learning and to the changes we have made within our congregation.
List of Helpful Agencies & Organizations
Spreading Awareness About Our Work
We have information about Inclusion in our weekly e-blast, on our Web Site, in our Flyer Rack in our lobby and in all of our marketing/promotional materials.
Process & Sharing
History, Materials & Processes that Guided Our Approach
Our commitment of policy of inclusion/accommodations appears on our website, in our weekly e-news, in our Bulletin.
History, Materials & Process Links
Evidence of Successful Inclusion Efforts
We definitely recommend forming an Inclusion Committee. Ours was formed by those who needed certain accommodations. We worked together (and with other already existing committees) to put these needs into place, and continue to work to see what else we are able to accomplish and to create wish lists for future possible projects.
This past High Holy Days was actually the first time that we had a sign language interpreter. Several people let us know that they thought it was wonderful. One young woman actually let us know that she would really like her Mom, who has a hearing impairment, to learn sign language, and they were inspired by the High Holy Day interpreter.
Evidence of Changing Attitudes
We have learned that it is important for us to approach those who may need accommodations and let them know that we will try to accommodate them to the best of our ability, rather than to passively wait for them to come to us. We have a responsibility to try to reach out to them, so that the burden does not fall solely upon them, but rather upon all of us, upon the entire community.
How We're Using and Sharing the Disabilities Inclusion Learning Center
We will include the study sessions and other resources and incorporate them into our Staff meetings on a regular basis. In addition, we will post an article each month in our e-news so that our congregants may click on the information and read about issues that are important.
Future Inclusion Efforts
We are always working to make our community more inclusive. We have been discussing the front of our building and parking lot for quite some time. We will continue to engage in discussion and implement changes that will make a difference for all. We also are continuing to change our Visual T'ifillah so that it becomes an integral part of our Shabbat Service offerings.