Jewish Disabilities Advocates

The JFS Jewish Disabilities Advocates program was created to raise awareness and further inclusion of people with disabilities within Jewish organizations and the larger Jewish community. Jewish Disabilities Advocates (JDA) consists of two complementary initiatives that serve individuals and organizations.

JDA 2025 Theme: Accessibility and Accommodations in Jewish Spaces

Accessibility and Accommodations in Jewish Spaces discusses the importance of involving individuals with disabilities in accessibility efforts and offers several steps individuals and organizations can take to improve accessibility.

Individuals with various disabilities contributed suggestions for making gatherings more accessible.

This High Holy Days bookmark prompts us to consider accessibility and accommodations for individuals with various disabilities, while this family recipe card encourages children to commit to one new accommodation to support their peers.

This Purim handout provides suggestions for hosting an accessible Megillah Reading, Purim Shpiel, and Purim Carnival. 

This family activity for Purim provides easy instructions for creating a sensory-friendly grogger/noisemaker. 

This Passover handout discusses how those with disabilities can help lead efforts to transform our Jewish spaces into communities of belonging by sharing their lived experience and also includes several suggestions for hosting an accessible Passover Seder.

JDAIM Community Learning Evening: We enjoyed a great evening learning with wonderful disability advocate Emily Ladau. Watch the recording to learn from Emily about demystifying disability and advocating for accessibility and accommodations in Jewish spaces.

JDA Collaborative and Partner Organizations

The JDA Collaborative works to improve inclusion and belonging of people with disabilities at the organizational level and across the Denver metro area Jewish community. Denver and Boulder synagogues, Jewish communal agencies, and other faith-based organizations collaborate to ensure Jews with a broad range of disabilities and their families can participate in rich Jewish life and culture.

Learn more

Events

Neuro-Connect: A Connection Group for Adults with Level 1 Autism
A low-pressure, friendly space to connect with other Autistic adults, share interests, and build friendships.
Virtual meetings, 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6 -7 p.m.

For more information and to receive the Google Meet link, email Shawn Axelrod at ShawnRAxelrod@gmail.com

Jewish Dementia Support Group
For individuals living with dementia and family caregivers. Join us in a safe and compassionate space for connection, resources, and support.
Monthly Virtual Meetings: 2nd Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Register

Parent Connect: Navigating Jewish Education
For families of children with physical disabilities, mental health challenges, learning disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions, severe food allergies, and more.

Monthly Virtual Meetings: 3rd Tuesday on Zoom, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
For more information and to receive the Zoom link, contact Bernadette Gien at bernagien3@gmail.com

Chronic Health Conditions Support group
Living with a chronic health condition can be challenging. Our JFS Jewish Disabilities Advocates Chronic Health Conditions Support Group offers the understanding and community you need for your well-being.

Monthly Virtual Meetings: Last Thursday on Zoom from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information and to receive the Zoom link, contact Lev (Max) Weiner at maxweiner126@yahoo.com.

JFS Jewish Disabilities Advocates creates resources throughout the year to raise awareness and understanding of a variety of disabilities and how the Jewish community can engage and support individuals with disabilities and their families. Our resources follow our area of focus for the year.