Inclusive Futures, Jewish Roots

A six-session leadership and learning experience for Jewish parents raising children with disabilities. Connect with other families, deepen your understanding of inclusion and belonging, and gain practical tools to advocate for your child’s future.

We are excited to open applications for the second cohort of Inclusive Futures, Jewish Roots, a six-session learning and leadership experience for Jewish families raising children with disabilities, hosted by JAccess.

Grounded in Jewish values of belonging, dignity, and community, this cohort brings families together to explore what it means to build a full and meaningful Jewish life for their children and for all of our children.

Through guided conversations, Jewish learning, shared experiences, and practical advocacy tools, participants will deepen their understanding of inclusion, relationships, belonging, and community life while building meaningful connections with other families who are navigating similar experiences.

Families from the first cohort shared that one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience was the opportunity to connect with other Jewish families who understood both the beauty and the complexity of raising a child with disabilities in Jewish communal life.

One participant reflected: “For the first time, I felt like I was in a Jewish space where people truly understood.” Another shared: “This experience changed how I think about inclusion, belonging, and my child’s future.”

Together, we will explore:

1. What a “good life” can look like for children and families
2. How belonging and inclusion shape Jewish communal life
3. The impact of expectations, relationships, and community experiences
4. Practical ways to advocate for meaningful inclusion across schools, synagogues, camps, and community spaces
5. How families and allies can help build stronger, more inclusive Jewish communities

This cohort is designed to be reflective, relational, and interactive. Participants are asked to commit to attending all six sessions and engaging fully in the learning community.

Meet Leslie Lipson, Session Speaker

Leslie Lipson is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities and a trusted expert in disability rights. As a civil rights attorney, she has spent years helping families, schools, and communities understand how to create more inclusive and supportive environments. Leslie is also deeply rooted in the Jewish community and brings her commitment to justice and inclusion to both her professional work and her Jewish life. She combines a wealth of knowledge with heartfelt dedication to making sure every child is valued, included, and given the opportunity to thrive.

Session Dates and Themes 

Kick-Off

Session 1: Created in Divine Image (B’tzelem Elohim): Building a Vision for a Good Life

Themes:

• Belonging
• High expectations
• Ordinary life
• Relationships
• Valued presence in community

Session 2: Seeing Clearly: Exclusion, Bias and Human Dignity

Themes:

• Devaluation
• Wounds
• Low expectation
• Segregation
• Unconscious bias
• Truth telling

Session 3: Being Known and Needed: Belonging, Role and Community

Themes:

• Valued Social Roles
• Role expectancy
• Contribution
• Friendship
• Participation in Jewish life

Session 4: All Jews are responsible for one another (Kol Yisrael Arevin Zeh Bazeh): Creating Inclusive Jewish Community

Themes:

• Inclusion in synagogues, camps, schools, youth groups
• Communal responsibility
• Belonging

Session 5:  You are not obligated to complete the work (Lo Alecha Hamlacha Ligmor)

Themes:

• Advocacy
• Systems change
• Leadership
• Relationship-building
• Communal action

Session 6: From Vision to Action: Sustaining Community and Belonging

Themes:

• Sustaining vision
• Ongoing leadership
• Relationships
• Community continuity & next steps

Who Should Apply

This program is for Jewish parents and caregivers who:

• Are raising a child with a disability
• Want to explore inclusion, belonging, and Jewish communal life more deeply
• Are interested in advocacy, leadership, and community-building
• Value learning in the community with other families
• Can commit to attending all six sessions

Why Should You Join?

• Gain practical tools to advocate for inclusion in Jewish spaces
• Learn from expert speakers and Jewish perspectives
• Connect with other families on a similar journey
• Receive a highly subsidized experience with childcare stipends available

Participants are expected to fully commit to all six sessions on the following dates:

• September 16, 5:30-7:30 PM
• October 25, 2026, 9:15 AM–12:30 PM
• November 8, 2026, 9:15 AM–12:30 PM
• December 13, 2026, 9:15 AM–12:30 PM
• January 10, 2027, 9:15 AM–12:30 PM
• January 31, 2027, 9:15 AM–12:30 PM
• February 7, 2027, 9:15 AM–12:30 PM

Each session is thoughtfully designed to build on the last, and full participation ensures the most meaningful experience for everyone involved.