Re-imagining Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month 

By Stacey Spencer • JFCS Disability Services Manager

Dedicating months to elevate and value a cause is important, as it can raise public awareness, help encourage advocacy and action, help break negative stigmas, and can even unite community support. Autism Awareness Month in April, Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Pride Month in June, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October are all great examples of the importance of having dedicated months. 

There are plenty of lesser-known months dedicated to unique causes, themes, and celebrations. Did you know that January is National Soup Month? (This seems perfect, given our unusually cold and snowy Minnesota winter.) In April, we celebrate National Umbrella Month (is that because “April showers bring May flowers” and we want to be prepared?) One of the most obscure months that is celebrated is National Squirrels Awareness Month in October (I swear I did not make this up!)

For the past 15 years, we have celebrated and commemorated Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) in February. The mission of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month is to unite Jewish communities worldwide to raise awareness and champion the rights of all Jews to be accepted and included in all aspects of Jewish life like anyone else (Disabilitybelongs.org).  

I don’t think anyone would disagree that celebrating JDAIM and its mission is important, timely and relevant. But disability inclusion doesn’t have to be just a one-month commitment; it’s something that can be built into everyday life. Here’s why keeping the JDAIM mission momentum going year-round matters, and what we are doing at JFCS to achieve this.

Disability inclusion isn’t a box you can put a checkmark in. It goes without saying, but people with disabilities face barriers every day, not just in February. Real inclusion means making sure spaces, policies, and attitudes are welcoming all the time.  Here at JFCS, we strive to weave inclusion into all our programing and into our whole agency. This includes our Vocational Rehabilitation program that supports employment for people with disabilities; the great work that our internal DEI committee is doing for our employees; and the work that is being done to support Jewish agencies and Jewish folks with innovative and caring programming as a part of our JFCS Disability Services program. At JFCS, we encompass our tagline, “Here for all. Always.”  

Disability inclusion is about real relationships. “One-and-done” social events or hosting a special program at your Jewish organization are just a start, not the whole story. Inclusion is about ensuring that people with disabilities are valued and included in our community, workplaces, and social circles every day. Take the JFCS Caring Connections (CC) program, which provides opportunities for Jewish adults with disabilities to take part in social and educational events and to engage in Jewish holidays, celebrations and traditions with a warm, welcoming community. Our goal is to provide programming to our members that adds value to their lives and welcomes them into our Jewish community.  

Our Caring Connections members attend program events all year long, and their voices and visions help to shape what the events will be, (because “nothing about us without us” is an important component of the CC program). They are a cohesive and lively group of people who adore hanging out together. It doesn’t matter anybody’s disability, gender or age – we at JFCS provide the space, programming, transportation and food requests that create the inclusive environment for very meaningful connections between our valued CC members. 

I hope you can see the benefits of striving as a Jewish community to have the mission of JDAIM as a goal during every month of the year, not just February. Advocacy is ongoing, and systemic change doesn’t happen in 28 days; we know awareness takes time, and we can’t change attitudes overnight. But the more action we take, the more we elevate the experiences and contributions of people with disabilities, and the more we do to support them all year round is a great start.

Let’s have a Jewish community conversation. You don’t have to do this alone – don’t hesitate to reach out for support and consultation. JFCS’ Disability Services are here to support the great efforts that you are already making in your Jewish organization and to help you elevate it towards the next level. Together, we can move forward Jewish disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion all year round.

For more information, contact Stacey Spencer, Disability Services Manager, at sspencer@jfcsmpls.org, or 952-542-4845