Areas of Inclusion: Religious School
About the Congregation
211 Belknap place
san antonio, TX 78212
Number of Congregants: 971
Contact Information
Julie Berlin
Inclusion Programming
Does this congregation have an inclusion committee?
No
Developing Our Program
Rabbi Barry Block
Number of people involved in the effort: 49
Involving People with Disabilities
They were not
Funding This Effort
At the start, friends of the Temple President, donated the money for our Inclusion Specialist's salary. Now it is part of the Religious School budget.
Helpful Agencies & Organizations
We did not work with other agencies.
Spreading Awareness About Our Work
We publicize the fact that our Religious School has an Inclusion Specialist in all of our RS publicity and materials.
Process & Sharing
History, Materials & Processes that Guided Our Approach
We have a few more forms that might be helpful but this application only allows for 4.
History, Materials & Process Documents
Evidence of Successful Inclusion Efforts
We had a Bar Mitzvah student last year, David, who has autism. He has been a part of our Religious School for a number of years and his needs have presented some challenges to the usual classroom structure. However, we worked with his parents to allow him to participate in the classroom. Additionally, we assigned a madrich to him so that when he needed to leave the class or walk around he could do so. His parents remarked in their speech at his bar mitzvah how much our efforts have helped him to succeed and be a part of the Temple community.
Evidence of Changing Attitudes
There is no longer a stigma about the pull-out class and more parents are willing to have their child be a part of it.
How We're Using and Sharing the Disabilities Inclusion Learning Center
Our Director of Congregational Learning, Leah Apothaker, shares Professional Development training sessions with our teachers four times per year.
Future Inclusion Efforts
We continue to strive to meet the needs of all of our students so that each one feels a part of our Temple and Religious School community. Leah and others attend an annual seminar at the Winston School ( a secular school for children with assorted learning challenges) to continue to learn new ways to help our own students.