Special Challen

might require further study of services
offered.
The past 50 years have seen a shift
in
attitudes
toward the differently
arolyn Morris has faced
abled.
Whether
their differences are
many frustrations in seeking
physical
or
mental,
children with spe-
a Jewish education for her
cial
needs
are
increasingly
included in
son Sammy.
the full range of educational and reli-
Sammy, now 7, is autistic.
gious activities.
When he was 3, he was turned
But finding the correct placement
down at two preschools before they
becomes
more difficult with children
even saw him, his mother said.
whose
needs,
like Sammy's, are more
"His impairment is a language
involved.
And
experts agree that
one," Morris said. "Behaviorally, he's a
inclusion
is
not
the right answer for
doll — happy, peaceful."
every
child.
However, she
"I really believe
said, it took a
the Jewish com-
while before any-
munity has done
one would stop
its best, and
long enough to
hopefully we'll be
see her son as an
able to provide
individual.
even more ser-
Morris said she
Although
mildly
to
vices in the
had gone from
future," said
one Jewish orga-
moderately disabled
Anita Naftaly of
nization to
children have been able to
the Agency for
another — They
Jewish
Education.
kept referring us
find their place in Jewish
AJE
is
the
to other organiza-
education, families of more
umbrella unit for
tions."
directing
commu-
"We're from
severely disabled students
nity resources to
Detroit. I was in
frequently must build
learning institu-
USY, Meals on
tions.
programs on their own.
Wheels. But this
Naftaly runs
turned me off
the
well-regarded
from all my
Opening
the
Doors
program,
which
Jewish involvement. I stopped all my
provides
tutoring
and
consulting
ser-
volunteer work, stopped going to ser-
vices
for
550
students
with
special
needs
vices, everything."
and their teachers in Jewish day schools
Eventually, Sammy was accepted at
and supplementary Jewish schools.
Adat Shalom's preschool, where he had
Although Opening the Doors works
a great year — a blast," his mother
only
with students of average intelli-
said. Now that he's ready for first
gence
whose special needs are classified
grade, he will attend a public school
as
mild
to moderate, Naftaly said she
with a full range of special services —
and
the
staff try very hard not to have
while his parents provide what Jewish
any
children
fall through the cracks.
education they can at home.
A case like the Morrises, she said,
The situation faced by the Morrises
proves that there is still some way to
is not unique in the metropolitan
go. Anyone who experiences frustra-
Detroit Jewish community.
tions, as did the Morris family, are
Community agencies are increasing
asked to contact Naftaly at the agency.
programming to accommodate special
Sara R. Simon, an expert in special
needs children in day and congrega-
education
in Washington, D.C.,
tional classrooms. But earlier this year,
Jewish schools, noted that "every set-
an outside study for Hillel Day School
ting is not the right setting for every
suggested that money constraints
youngster at every stage in his or her
educational career. If it's a large day
Diana Lieberman can be reached at
school with a dual curriculum, then
(248) 354-6060, ext 247, or by e-mail
there may be too much stimulation.
.
s.com
at: dlieberm@thejewishnew-

S

DIANA LIEBERMAN
StaffWriter

C

"

8/6
1999

10 Detroit Jewish News

Every child is an individual."
Detroit's Jewish community pro-
vides an array of educational alterna-
tives for children, in day schools,
after-school and Sunday programs.
Most school directors said the start
of Opening the Doors four years ago
was a significant boost to their efforts
to serve special-needs children.
The program, which provides cur-
riculum and consulting services in spe-
cial education as well as placing teach-
ers in area schools, has grown from
nine schools during its first year to 23
schools this coming year.
Lynda Giles, the former AJE presi-
dent who helped establish Opening the
Doors, said it has been a model for

programs in other cities. "I am especial- c_
ly proud of the quality of the educators
we've been able to attract," she noted.
Naftaly, director of the program
since its inception, said Opening the
Doors' primary advantage is that its ser-
vices are tailored to the individual stu-
dent. While she does the initial inter-
viewing, no staff member is assigned
before meeting with the educational
director of the school and learning what
the students at that school need.
"Ultimately, our eye is on the
child," Naftaly said. "Our goal is to
make sure the child succeeds and has a
positive learning experience."
In these day schools — Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah, Sally Allan Alexander Beth