Matan Inc

With deep gratitude and more than a tinge of sadness, the Matan Board of Directors announces that Dori Frumin Kirshner, who has served as Executive Director of Matan for the past 15 years, will be stepping down from her position, effective January 10, 2025. Dori’s impact on disability inclusion within the Jewish community is immeasurable. Through her visionary leadership, Matan has transformed the Jewish landscape in North America, making it a more inclusive space for individuals with disabilities and their families. We are beyond grateful for Dori’s dedication, passion, and relentless commitment to building a more inclusive Jewish future. We wish her the very best as she embarks on this exciting new chapter of her life. To see the Board's full announcement and Dori's letter to the Matan community, please click here: https://lnkd.in/gTvDhM_5

Matan Advisory Board Member Rafi Josselson recently launched his B'Tzelem Elohim Disability and Inclusion podcast. Make sure to check out his newest episode in which he speaks with our very own Michelle Steinhart about the work of Matan and the role Hebrew school educators play in accessible education.

Thank you to everyone who joined us Monday night at our Matan webinar, "Creating a More Inclusive Community for People who Stutter." Participants learned about stuttering misperceptions and facts with Maria Binger, M.A., CCC-SLP. Additionally, they heard from a panel who shared their Jewish and secular experiences growing up as people who stutter, how they view their own acceptance, and how they feel teachers and leaders could provide support in the Jewish community.

Join us on October 28 from 7pm - 8pm EDT for our next free webinar, "Creating a More Inclusive Community for People who Stutter." ?? Learn about stuttering, misperceptions and facts, the lived experience, and more from the experts themselves: people who stutter! ?? A presentation by stuttering specialist and speech therapist Maria Binger ?? Q&A with panelists who share their experience growing up as people who stutter, how they view their own acceptance, and how they feel teachers and leaders could provide support in the Jewish community and beyond. Register at https://lnkd.in/gMyiaR3F

Join us on October 28 from 7pm - 8pm EDT for our next free webinar, "Creating a More Inclusive Community for People who Stutter." ?? Learn about stuttering, misperceptions and facts, the lived experience, and more from the experts themselves: people who stutter! ?? A presentation by stuttering specialist and speech therapist Maria Binger ?? Q&A with panelists who share their experience growing up as people who stutter, how they view their own acceptance, and how they feel teachers and leaders could provide support in the Jewish community and beyond. Register at https://lnkd.in/gMyiaR3F

Thank you to eJewishPhilanthropy and Jay Deitcher for spotlighting the Lieberman Fellowship for Professionals in Jewish Organizations Serving Young Adults, Matan's groundbreaking new initiative that aims to create systemic change in the way young adults with disabilities are included within Jewish communal life. Our first cohort launches next month in partnership with The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. If you are interested in learning how to bring the Lieberman Fellowship to your community, contact Jennie Gates Beckman at [email protected]

Matan is proud to have its groundbreaking new Lieberman Fellowship for Professionals in Jewish Organizations Serving Young Adults highlighted in a recent issue of The Jewish Link

There is still time to register for our upcoming free webinar "Helping Children Manage Back to School Anxiety" on August 12 from 2pm - 3pm EDT. Join Matan's Meredith Polsky, LCSW-C and Shira Sender with ShalomLearning as they talk about different kinds of anxiety, what anxiety might look like in children, and what strategies parents and professionals can implement to help with those back to school worries! Register here: https://wkf.ms/3YoFmyr

Don't miss this upcoming free webinar "Helping Children Manage Back to School Anxiety" on August 12 from 2pm - 3pm EDT. Join Matan's Meredith Polsky, LCSW-C and Shira Sender with ShalomLearning as they talk about different kinds of anxiety, what anxiety might look like in children, and what strategies parents and professionals can implement to help with those back to school worries! Register here: https://wkf.ms/3YoFmyr

As Matan celebrates #Disability Independence Day, we are taking a moment to reflect on the progress in disability rights and inclusion, and recommit to creating a more inclusive world for all Jews. We remain inspired by Matan's mission to foster disability inclusion in our communities. We focus on the crucial reality: 20% of the population has some form of disability. That's one in five people often excluded from fully participating in community life. Matan's vision aligns perfectly with the Disability Independence Day spirit. We know our communities are only as strong as our ability to include individuals with and without disabilities and rise to the challenge today and every day to view inclusion as fundamental to building thriving, diverse communities. By empowering community leaders and educators through training and coaching, Matan provides essential tools for meaningful inclusion. This approach ensures communities can create purposeful, enriching experiences for people with disabilities and their families. Moving forward, let's commit to: ?? Recognizing and addressing exclusion ?? Advocating for inclusive policies ?? Educating ourselves about disability rights ?? Creating opportunities for meaningful participation for all By prioritizing inclusion, we support independence for people with disabilities and enrich our entire Jewish community. Today, let's celebrate progress and renew our commitment to building a more inclusive world. #DisabilityIndependenceDay #Inclusion #Accessibility #Education