Inclusion

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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.

Request an Accommodation

To facilitate access to any of our services, programming, or activities, please request an accommodation (e.g, ESL interpretation, transcription services, mobility assistance, etc.).

Request a Printed Sermon

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.

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 or email at kari.cruz@caa-austin.org.


Suggestions or Feedback for The Inclusion Committee?

Your comments will be received by a 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

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/

https://www.yachad.org/

https://matankids.org/