Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is a unified national initiative during the month of February to raise disability awareness and support efforts to foster inclusion in Jewish communities worldwide.

Throughout the month of February, Whole Community Inclusion offers programs and resources to help raise awareness about and celebrate disability inclusion across the Greater Philadelphia Jewish Community.

Jewish Learning Venture, JDAIM, Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month

JDAIM Shabbat Across Philadelphia

Whole Community Inclusion and the Jewish Disability Awareness Consortium of Greater Philadelphia invites you to join synagogues and community organizations in the area that are dedicating a Shabbat service or communal event during the month of February to focus on disability inclusion issues. We will be sharing events at participating synagogues and organizations throughout February!

Please fill out this form to share your synagogue or organization’s event with us. 

Click here to see how communities across Philadelphia are celebrating JDAIM!

Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Learning Cohorts

Our “Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Learning Cohorts” open to Jewish educators or folks who are interested in becoming Jewish educators who identify as neurodivergent to uplift their neurodivergent “superpowers” and create a community of practice focusing on the challenges that come from working in environments that don’t yet support neurodivergent adults. Another cohort is for education directors of any neurotype who want to provide an environment where their neurodivergent staff will be successful and supported.

Contact Julia for more information.

Hear what cohort participants have to say:

I was able to get some really good perspective on neurodiversity in general, and reflect on my own assumptions and expectations.

Supporting neurodivergent staff and students has the potential to create a culture of supporting and affirming needs of anyone who enters our program with any type of neurodiversity, and welcomes potential teachers into the school who might otherwise feel they can’t teach or don’t belong.

A grid of four images: a stylized picture of George Washington, a child sitting in an adult's lap holding a balloon animal, two children listening to an exhibit, and another stylized picture of some bars of sheet music, hearts, and stars.

JDAIM Celebration for Families at the Weitzman

Monday, February 17th
In person at the Weitzman Museum (corner of 5th and Market)

Family Friendly Activities 10 am – 2 pm

Admission & Pricing
FREE! Early registration is appreciated, but not required. Click here to register.

Join us at the Weitzman for a FREE Family Day jam-packed with fun activities for all ages, spotlighting Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) alongside exciting programs, workshops, crafts, a resource fair, scavenger hunts, and more.

10:15 AM: Mr. John’s Music class with Miss Cat as a delightful, interactive performance to get the day started on a high note!

11:15 AM: Khalil Munir’s show entitled “The Crown’s Corner” – Khalil will enchant through tap, drumming, and spoken word giving voice to his struggle with dyslexia. A make-and-take craft will follow the performance.

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Face Painting with BonBon Parties & Events

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Open Gym on the 5th floor with We Rock the Spectrum to enjoy sensory-friendly play and exploration for all ages!

12:00 – 12:45 PM: Join Adoughma (Ah-DOUGH-mah) dough play; sensory-friendly play dough fun (all ages) with Erin Beser from Jewish Learning Venture.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Cartoon-Making Workshop with Wendy Elliott-Vandivier, a teaching artist melding her art with disability activism. Create your own cartoons with guidance from an expert! Pre-registration required with a $15 fee to reserve a spot and for supplies. Please email Carley Paul to inquire. (Appropriate for ages 8 and above)

All Day: JDAIM-themed resource fair featuring inclusive organizations and activities such as Philly Friendship Circle and Penn Museum.

Finding your pathway with the jewish disability inclusion consortium of greater philadelphia. organizations supporting jewish adults and families raising children with disabilities in the greater philadelphia area. kids: jafco, philly friendship circle, kaiserman jcc. schools: perelman jewish day school, orot, barrack hebrew academy. camps: camp kef, ramah day camp, camp harlam. families: family matters, jewish learning venture. synagogues: or hadash, temple sholom, reconstructing judaism, main line reform temple. adults: jfcs, tikvah, families ccan, jchai.

Lesson Plans

Free downloadable lessons for JDAIM or any time of the year! From the Jewish Disability Inclusion Consortium, these lesson plans use Jewish values to help students learn about the importance of disability inclusion.

Disability Resources