5 Ways Pozez JCC Supports Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion

February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), a time to celebrate differences, amplify voices, and reaffirm our commitment to building a community where everyone belongs. At the J, inclusion is woven into every season of the year, from winter fundraisers to summer camp to year-round social and educational programs.

“Everyone brings their own unique self to come together and make all that we do so special, and to foster a sense of pride in who they are,” says Alison Pasternak, the Inclusion and Disability Program Coordinator at Pozez JCC. “Our inclusion programs are a place where people come to find acceptance, community, friendship, and fun.”

In honor of JDAIM, we’re spotlighting five standout programs the J runs to support people with disabilities in February and beyond. 

1. ReelAbilities Film Festival: Building Bridges Through Storytelling

Each winter, the ReelAbilities Film Festival: Greater Washington, powered by Pozez JCC, uses film and art to raise awareness and celebrate people with disabilities. This year, the film festival is running from Jan. 25 through March 8, with screenings and events across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

ReelAbilities showcases the full range of talent and lived experience within the disability community, pairing award-winning films with interactive programming. Each year during the festival, the J displays the work of an artist with disabilities in the Bodzin Art Gallery.

“The festival connects people who might not otherwise interact with different parts of the disability community,” Alison says. “It really builds a bridge and allows those interactions to occur.”

Through powerful storytelling, ReelAbilities invites audiences to see disability not as a limitation, but as part of the diverse fabric of our community.

2. Going Places!: Building Friendships Through Shared Experiences

Going Places! is a monthly social club that brings neurodiverse teens and adults together to create memories with people with similar lived experiences. 

“Going Places! is a safe haven for me from the dismissive outside world,” says Julia Cooper, who has been a participant for over 10 years. “I’ve gained lots of lasting friendships in this group, and I get excited to hang out with people who understand life with different abilities.”

Through chocolate tastings, theater shows, and other outings, the program is creating lifelong friendships, Alison added. It provides the space for these teens and adults to explore new places and have novel experiences in a supported, welcoming environment.

“Participants come back again and again,” she says. “They’ve made real friendships and keep in touch outside of Going Places! It’s difficult making long-term friendships as an adult, especially as an adult with disabilities. We give them a space to find their people.”

3. Camp Kesher: Summer, Friendship, and Independence

Camp Kesher is a summer day camp for neurodiverse high schoolers, recent graduates, and young adults ages 19-27. Over four weeks — two for teens and two for young adults — campers explore Greater DC through daily field trips, lunches out, and activities that build confidence and independence.

Susan Clay, whose daughter Sara attends the young adult session, calls it a life-changing experience.

“We plan our whole year around it,” she says. “At this age, young adults with disabilities still want to be active and make friends. Without Kesher, those opportunities just don’t exist.”

Alison describes Camp Kesher as a safe, joyful space.

“Campers get to just have fun,” she says. “They learn real-life skills like ordering food at restaurants, but they’re also laughing, exploring, and being themselves. They deserve that.”

4. Social Skills Classes: Laying the Foundation Early

Social Skills Classes at the J support preschool and school-aged children with Level 1 Autism, ADHD, developmental delays, and related social communication challenges. These classes focus on practicing interaction, communication, and friendship-building in a supportive environment.

Mark Shaffer, now 16, started social skills classes at age 9.

“I needed help socializing, making new friends, and maintaining relationships,” Mark says. “In the classes, I learned about my emotions and what calms me down when I’m upset. I always look forward to playing games and going on fun field trips.”

Alison adds that it’s especially rewarding to see participants grow over time, with many transitioning from social skills classes into programs like Going Places! or Camp Kesher.

5. Holiday Bazaar: Celebrating Talent and Creativity

Each winter, the Pozez JCC Holiday Bazaar showcases the artistic talents of individuals with disabilities and/or mental illnesses while raising funds for Inclusion and Disability Services. Local vendors sell handmade baked goods, jewelry, photography, artwork, and more, making it easy to shop with purpose.

“It felt exciting to be part of a community event and see how people responded to my work,” says Hina Sehgal, who sold her handmade jewelry for the first time at last year’s Bazaar. “People kept stopping by my table to compliment my work and ask questions. That made me feel really proud and confident as a creator.”

Another participant, Miles Sanford, has been selling stickers, art prints, cards, and small clay trinkets at the Bazaar since 2018.

“Art is my special interest and a way to communicate with the world when I have trouble communicating,” Miles says. “I’ve met amazing artists that share the same interests as me, and it feels easy talking to people at the Bazaar.”

In addition to raising funds, the Bazaar invites the broader community to view disabilities not as limitations, but as sources of unique perspectives and creative expressions.

How You Can Support Disability Programming at the J

This JDAIM, and all year long, the J remains committed to inclusion, belonging, and meaningful connection. No matter the season, there’s a place for everyone here.

You can support this work by showing up to inclusive community events like the Holiday Bazaar and ReelAbilities, making a gift to initiatives like Going Places! and Camp Kesher, and spreading the word that the J is a welcoming resource for children and young adults looking to connect, socialize, and be valued for who they are.