Building CommunityBuilding Community

Creating an Inclusive Creating an Inclusive Community CenterCommunity Center

Jewish Community Center of Staten IslandJewish Community Center of Staten Island

MissionMissionThe Jewish Community Center of Staten The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island provides a continuum of programs Island provides a continuum of programs for individuals with disabilities and their for individuals with disabilities and their families, in an inclusive and accepting families, in an inclusive and accepting

environment.environment.

VisionVision

The JCC of Staten Island will be an The JCC of Staten Island will be an integral part in assisting individuals integral part in assisting individuals

with disabilities and their families, to with disabilities and their families, to achieve their full potential through achieve their full potential through

participation in social and recreational participation in social and recreational programs, resulting in anprograms, resulting in an

improvement in their quality of life. improvement in their quality of life.

Americans with Disabilities Americans with Disabilities ActAct

The Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was conceived (ADA) of 1990 was conceived with the goal of integrating with the goal of integrating people with disabilities into all people with disabilities into all aspects of American life, aspects of American life, particularly the workplace and particularly the workplace and the marketplace. the marketplace.

Sensitivity toward people with Sensitivity toward people with disabilities is not only in the spirit of disabilities is not only in the spirit of

the ADA, it makes good business the ADA, it makes good business sense. It can help you expand your sense. It can help you expand your

program, better serve your program, better serve your customers or develop your audience. customers or develop your audience.

The greatest barriers The greatest barriers individuals with disabilities individuals with disabilities have faced for decades and have faced for decades and continue to face today are continue to face today are

attitudinal barriersattitudinal barriers

Some facts about Some facts about disabilitiesdisabilities

1 in 5 people have a disability1 in 5 people have a disability There are over 500 known disabilities.There are over 500 known disabilities. Common disabilities include: vision, hearing, Common disabilities include: vision, hearing,

speech, physical and developmental.speech, physical and developmental. People with disabilities are like everyone elsePeople with disabilities are like everyone else

Disability vs. HandicappedDisability vs. Handicapped

A disability is a condition that limits a A disability is a condition that limits a person’s ability to walk, talk, see, person’s ability to walk, talk, see, hear or reason.hear or reason.

A handicap is an imposed barrier that A handicap is an imposed barrier that restricts a person.restricts a person.

People with People with disabilities are disabilities are handicapped handicapped by society’s by society’s

mistaken mistaken beliefs about beliefs about

their their disabilities. disabilities.

It is up to everyone to help It is up to everyone to help make sure disabilities are make sure disabilities are

seen as challenges not seen as challenges not burdensburdens

YouTube - Thumbs Down to PityYouTube - Thumbs Down to Pity

People First LanguagePeople First Language

People First LanguagePeople First Language puts the person before the puts the person before the disability and describes what a person has, not who a disability and describes what a person has, not who a

person is.person is.

http://www.disabilityisnatural.comhttp://www.disabilityisnatural.com

SaySay Person with a disabilityPerson with a disability She has autismShe has autism He has Down syndromeHe has Down syndrome He has a physical disabilityHe has a physical disability She uses a wheelchairShe uses a wheelchair She is of short statureShe is of short stature

ParkingParking

Which sign models Which sign models People FirstPeople First thinkingthinking

Accessible entrance

Disabled parking

Reasonable AccommodationReasonable Accommodation Most barriers can be alleviated with the Most barriers can be alleviated with the

use of appropriate reasonable use of appropriate reasonable accommodationaccommodation.. Offer materials in larger printOffer materials in larger print Amplification of telephone handsetsAmplification of telephone handsets Consider the communication situationConsider the communication situation

Nature of language, length and complexityNature of language, length and complexity For example, speaking clearly in a normal For example, speaking clearly in a normal

tone of voice, writing key words, using short tone of voice, writing key words, using short sentences, gesturing, signing, looking sentences, gesturing, signing, looking directly at the listener when speaking, directly at the listener when speaking,

Common AccommodationsCommon Accommodations

Creating Inclusive Creating Inclusive EnvironmentsEnvironments

“ “Inclusion” implies that people are Inclusion” implies that people are welcome, that each person reaches welcome, that each person reaches

out to include another person.out to include another person.

Inclusion conveys the idea that we Inclusion conveys the idea that we appreciate each other, that we see appreciate each other, that we see

each other’s gifts, that we value each other’s gifts, that we value being together.being together.

http://www.tash.orgNewsletter June 1990

Celebrity TriviaCelebrity Trivia

Who earned very poor grades and was labeled slow in school. He Who earned very poor grades and was labeled slow in school. He went on to produce movies and cartoons for family went on to produce movies and cartoons for family entertainment.entertainment.

WALT DISNEYWALT DISNEY This famous writer had epilepsy.This famous writer had epilepsy.

CHARLES DICKENSCHARLES DICKENS This actor has to practice speaking lines because of stuttering.This actor has to practice speaking lines because of stuttering.

BRUCE WILLISBRUCE WILLIS This comedian/actor is always moving because of ADHDThis comedian/actor is always moving because of ADHD

ROBIN WILLIAMSROBIN WILLIAMS This actor learns lines by listening to audiotapes because dyslexia This actor learns lines by listening to audiotapes because dyslexia

makes reading difficult.makes reading difficult.

TOM CRUISETOM CRUISE

Learn More about Learn More about DisabilitiesDisabilities

Volunteer at an agency eventVolunteer at an agency event Research online or join a specific Research online or join a specific

disabilities group such as Autism Speaks disabilities group such as Autism Speaks or National Down Syndrome Congressor National Down Syndrome Congress

Watch a movie. Some good choices are Watch a movie. Some good choices are “You’ve Got a Friend” ( Tourette “You’ve Got a Friend” ( Tourette Syndrome) or “My Left Foot” based on a Syndrome) or “My Left Foot” based on a true story.true story.

A final wordA final word

Many of us believe that when some people are Many of us believe that when some people are excluded from the social fabric of our excluded from the social fabric of our

communities, that fabric contains a hole.communities, that fabric contains a hole.

When the fabric contains a hole, the entire fabric is When the fabric contains a hole, the entire fabric is weakened.weakened.

It lacks the richness, texture and strength of It lacks the richness, texture and strength of diversitydiversity

Author unknownAuthor unknown

ResourcesResources

www.disabilityisnatural.comwww.disabilityisnatural.com www.independenceinc.org/trivia.htmwww.independenceinc.org/trivia.htm http://www.ada.gov/reachingout/intro1.htmhttp://www.ada.gov/reachingout/intro1.htm http://www.jasonandnordic.com/page1.asphttp://www.jasonandnordic.com/page1.asp http://www.tash.orghttp://www.tash.org www.cfilc.orgwww.cfilc.org http://www.arkdisabilityrights.orghttp://www.arkdisabilityrights.org http://www.drexel.eduhttp://www.drexel.edu YouTube - Thumbs Down to PityYouTube - Thumbs Down to Pity