The Inclusion/Special Needs Job Track at the 2019 Professional Conference is designed to promote exemplary inclusion practices in JCCs. Job Track sessions will address content knowledge/current research, programming methods, strategic visioning, advocacy work, program evaluation, and lots of peer-to-peer learning and sharing.
Special Needs Job Track Leader: Dr. David Ackerman, Senior Vice President | Director, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Jewish Education
Session Title #1:Welcome to the Inclusion Learning Exchange
Speaker: David Ackerman, Director, MCJE, JCC Association and Eva Cowen, Year-Round Inclusion Consultant, Bender JCC of Greater Washington
Description: This opening session lets participants get to know one another and to share their most effective programming ideas
Session Title #2: Moving From Best Practices to Standards for Inclusion
Speakers: Dr. Gary Siperstein, Director, Center for Social Development and Education & Mark Spolidaro, Director, Camp Shriver
Description: The National Inclusion Project is devoting time to developing standards for recreational settings. This session will present the standards and discuss their application and implementation in JCCs.
Session Title #3: Helping JCC Staff Assume an Inclusive Mindset
Speakers: Eva Cowen, Year-Round Inclusion Consultant, Bender JCC of Greater Washington
Description: Effective inclusion depends upon everybody’s efforts. This session focusses on how to help your JCC’s general staff acquire an inclusive mindset and practice.
Session Title #4
Speaker: David Ackerman, Director, MCJE, JCC Association
Part 1: The Social Side of Disability and Inclusion
Description: Social skills are critical for living in community. This session addresses the current research on the impact of disability on social interactions
Part 2: J Response: Disability and Disaster
Description: Inclusive disaster/emergency planning for people with disabilities requires asking inclusive questions. What are they?
Session Title #5: Universal Design and Access at the J
Speaker: Rabbi Ruti Regan, Rabbinic Scholar-in-Residence, Matan
Description: Designing for inclusion is much easier than adapting for inclusion. This interactive session explores Universal Design as a model for inclusive program planning.