TAP

by Madelyn Schaeffer, TAP teen, Adath Israel I have known the special needs child whom I am currently working with at my Hebrew School for about a year or two. I’ve worked at the camp that he goes to over the summer for years and I was even an assistant teacher in his older brothers classroom in the past. When I was assigned to this kid, this silly and hyper little boy, I didn’t think much of it; I thought teaching Alex would be like any other experience I’ve had with special needs kids, I thought I would need more [...]

by Abbe Goldstein Or Hadash I work with a boy named Jeffrey almost every Sunday at Or Hadash. Jeffrey is in fourth grade and has Down Syndrome. I enjoy working with Jeffrey because he poses a challenge for me, and it is good to be truly challenged every once in a while. In the beginning, he would always hit me and say things such as “I hate you!” It has been a learning experience on not just how to deal with Jeffrey’s behavior, but how to control my own behavior. I can’t yell at him, and can’t show him that [...]

by Chad Finkelstein Old York Road Temple--Beth Am So far this year I have helped out a few different students at my Hebrew school at Old York Road Temple Beth Am, and each one is unique. My first day, I was assigned to help a fourth grade boy who at first, I did not believe had autism. He just seemed like a kid who had a difficult time paying attention, and talked often. As time went on I realized he was not being disruptive on purpose, but that he did not understand subtle social guidelines such as when to stop [...]