In It Together
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES ENGAGE IN JEWISH LIFE
For many families living overseas , the most suitable educational framework for their special needs child might be in a non-Jewish setting . Mrs . Shoshi Kofman shares her tips for inculcating the child with the fundamentals of Jewish tradition . pshetel , that is exactly the point . The staff at Seeach Sod are constantly striving to enable their members to perform every mitzvah within their reach .
Wash their hands in the morning . Even if they can ’ t do anything else , they can at least start the day free from tumah .
If the child is verbal , teach them to say brachos , even if they are just finishing the end of your sentence . You could also teach them to say Amen to someone else ’ s brachah .
If they are in a non-Jewish setting and can ’ t wear a kippah and tzitzis in school , designate a shelf or special place at home to store the kippah and tzitzis when they ' re out . We want to teach them that their mitzvos are precious .
Say the bedtime Shema with your child . Most children can put their hand over their eyes , even if they can ’ t say the words . Any part of a mitzvah they perform speaks to their neshamah .
Before the chagim , try to tell them what will happen in very simple terms . Try to include them as much as possible .
Different , Yet the Same
Mrs . Kofman explains the lengths to which they
go to enable student integration . Each event is adapted to keep the experience as close to the traditional experience as possible but within the student ’ s capacity . For example , when boys reach bar mitzvah age , it involves extensive preparation . “ The exact program is tailored to each boy . The rebbis help them understand the mitzvos that they will be able to perform , like putting on tefillin ,” Mrs Kofman says .
Seeach Sod holds a party on the campus for each boy , while some families opt to also have an external celebration . “ If a family decides to hold a formal event in a hall , we will coach the bar mitzvah boy on what to expect , how to greet guests , and so on , everything he will need to know to feel comfortable ,” recounts Mrs . Kofman .
When it comes to the bar mitzvah derashah , boys with advanced language skills are helped to prepare a speech , either with a basic Torah concept or simply to thank their parents . More creative options are needed for boys with limited communication abilities . ” For students who lack the capacity to speak but who can understand , we have customized iPads ,” says Mrs . Kofman . The iPads have images that generate words when pressed by the student , and are used to enable students to communicate on a regular basis . When
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