CAA Community Inclusion Committee
Dignity, Accessibility and Respect
Vision: To create an inclusive environment where people of all abilities can meaningfully participate in religious, educational, spiritual, and social life.
Mission: We are dedicated to supporting people of all abilities within our sacred community and facilitating changes to make our synagogue more inclusive and accessible, through a collaborative effort with congregants, clergy and staff.
To facilitate access to any of our services, programming, or activities, please request an accommodation (e.g, ESL interpretation, transcription services, mobility assistance, etc.).
To receive a printed copy of the Rabbi’s Shabbat sermon, please submit this request by Friday at 10:00 am. Ask a Shabbat greeter for your printed copy upon your arrival at Shabbat morning services.
Our focus and key points of interest:
- Support congregants of all abilities, to facilitate full inclusion.
- Receive and respond in a timely manner to accessibility issues and obstacles to meaningful participation in synagogue life.
- Monitor and evaluate CAA programs to improve accessibility needs for adults and children with disabilities within our educational and religious framework.
- Facilitate improvements to make our physical space more accessible to people with disabilities, as our resources allow.
- Offer seating assistance, help with assistive technology and guide to synagogue facilities, upon request.
Current Inclusion and Support Initiatives:
Hearts Of Hope Havurah – Hearts Of Hope Havurah: 70 Faces Of Torah and Kabbalah. We begin with an illuminating shiur (class), followed by an enriching and engaging discussion of our subject matter. We provide an expansive Jewish learning experience for progressive Jewish adults, within a peaceful, harmonious and supportive environment. We are a place to deepen your relationship with Jewish spirituality, connect and belong. We meet in the AJA/CAARS education building on Saturday afternoons. For more information on joining us please contact me at abigailmail18@gmail.com
Congregation Agudas Achim Religious School (CAARS) – As part of the CAA Community Inclusion initiative, CAARS is consulting with a licensed psychologist to facilitate accommodations for students with special needs. If you have any questions or would like to discuss potential accommodations for a student, please contact Dr. Harvey Raben, CAA Director of Congregational Learning, at 512-735-8422 (harvey.raben@caa-austin.org).
Building Improvements – We are working to make our building and sacred space more accessible to people with disabilities, as resources allow. Please contact Kari Cruz, CAA Community Inclusion Staff Liaison, with your feedback or suggestions at 512-735-8430 (kari.cruz@caa-austin.org).
Suggestions or Feedback for The Inclusion Committee?
Your comments will be received by Kari Cruz, CAA Community Inclusion Staff Liaison and distributed as needed to Inclusion Committee Members .
CAA Community Inclusion Committee:
Abigail Ellen, Co-chair
Brooke Hersh-Thompson, Co-chair
Carolyn Austin – past chair
Dr. Harvey Raben
Steve Chodorow
Laurie Drucker
Linda Elmas
Fred Fox
Alan Gerhardt
Ivy Goldstein
Sharon Miller
Marshall Sack
Amber Vasquez
Mike Williams
Resources:
http://www.thejewishinclusionproject.org/
http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/SocialAction/Accessibility/
http://inclusioninnovations.com/