1. P RESENTED B Y : E LLEN M AISELOFF

2. MISSION STATEMENT OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES RECEIVE AN APPROPRIATE AND MEANINGFUL JEWISH EDUCATION.

3.  OPENING THE DOORS: NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM SUPPLIES MASTERS LEVEL SPECIAL EDUCATOR IN EACH OF THE 26 PARTNER SCHOOLS.  DOORS TO THE FUTURE: PARA EDUCATORS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SHORT TERM INTERVENTION FOR HIGH RISK EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDENTS.  EFSHAR CIRCLE: AN OPENING THE DOORS AND FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP SUNDAY  COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: ONGOING SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS, LAY LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY PRACTITIONERS.  MADRICHIM LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL TEENS

4.  A TTENTION D EFICIT D ISORDER (A DD /H D )  A SPERGER ' S S YNDROME  A UTISM  C OMMUNICATION D ISORDERS  C OGNITIVE I MPAIRMENT  E MOTIONAL I SSUES /A NXIETY  F RAGILE X S YNDROME  H EARING I MPAIRED  L ANGUAGE - BASED L EARNING D ISABILITIES  N ON - VERBAL L EARNING D ISABILITIES  S ENSORY I NTEGRATION  T OURETTE S YNDROME  O BSESSIVE C OMPULSIVE D ISORDER  O PPOSITIONAL D EFIANT D ISORDER

7.  EACH DAY SCHOOL, EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND CONGREGATION SCHOOL RECEIVE SUBSIDIES FROM FEDERATION’S ALLIANCE FOR JEWISH EDUCATION.  SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO ADD CHALLENGE FUNDS.  FUNDS USED TOWARDS SPECIAL EDUCATOR’S SALARY AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND CHALLENGES

8.  NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM ENABLES FEDERATION TO RESPONDS TO CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS: PROVIDES ONE SPECIAL EDUCATOR PER SCHOOL  WITHOUT OPENING THE DOORS MANY CHILDREN WOULD NOT RECEIVE A JEWISH EDUCATION  BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS THAT BAR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FROM RECEIVING A JEWISH EDUCATION  GATEWAY TO SYNAGOGUE/TEMPLE INVOLVEMENT AND MEMBERSHIP

9.  BEGINNING OF LONG LASTING RELATIONSHIPS, SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND CONTINUUM OF CARE AND EDUCATION  LINKS FAMILIES TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WHO MAY HAVE LEFT DUE TO UNMET NEEDS  BUILDS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FEELINGS OF BELONGING AND ACCEPTANCE BY THE JEWISH COMMUNITY  PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO FAMILIES IN NEED AND CONNECTS THEM TO COMMUNAL SERVICES

10.  THE JEWISH SPECIAL EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM AND JFNA JOIN JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN NORTH AMERICA TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN FEBRUARY.  DAN GUYER SERVES AS A CO-CHAIR FOR JFNA’S AMERICA’S DISABILITY WORKGROUP AND THE ALLIANCE’S ELLEN MAISELOFF IS A MEMBER OF JEWISH SPECIAL EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM.  OPENING THE DOORS WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE CUTTING EDGE STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS, TEENS, AND MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS.