metro Opening Doors JARC, Federation to collaborate on School Inclusion Program. W —Fox Run resident Dr. Leonard Stein Living at Fox Run in Novi, Dr. Leonard Stein has time to work full-time as an optometrist and develop his eye for photography. Since dining, maintenance and 24-hour security are all handled by our expert full-time staff, Fox Run residents have more energy and opportunity to pursue their passions. Fox Run is a great place for seniors who enjoy an active lifestyle. Learn more about independent retirement living at Fox Run in Novi. Call 1-800-989-0293 today for your free brochure. Fox Run Add more Living to your Life® Novi EricksonLiving.com 8622639 ❑ 1885000 10 June 26 • 2014 hen JARC began its School Inclusion Program (SIP) in 1998, with the goal of including children with disabilities in Jewish day schools, many of the day schools were skeptical about including these students. While sympathetic, they lacked teachers and other profession- als trained to work with students who learn differently, have delayed language and who might become disruptive. However, 16 years later, the program has successfully served Estie Garfinkel, classroom assistant, more than 60 students, many for 10 with Simcha Landsman or more years. JARC's School Inclusion Program provides comprehensive classroom and said, "I am in great support of this auxiliary support for children with a ambitious undertaking. The program is wide range of disabilities in order to vital to the community and much more attend Jewish day schools with their secure as a collaborative venture with same-age peers, rather than being seg- Federation:' regated with other disabled children in Jeffrey Lasday, Alliance director, a special classroom. said, "The collaboration is a wonderful The target population is Jewish chil- opportunity for Federation's Opening dren ages 3-19. With a range of disabili- the Doors program to expand its ser- ties, these students would not be able vices to serve more children:' to attend Jewish day schools (preschool Opening the Doors' mission is to through high school) without the com- enable students, regardless of their prehensive support system of the SIP. diverse learning, behavioral and social In the 2013-14 school year, the SIP abilities, to participate in a quality and is serving 16 students at Akiva Day meaningful Jewish education with their School, Bais Yakov, Hillel Day School, peers. It currently serves more than Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, Yeshiva Gedolah 1,000 students in Metro Detroit's Jewish and Yeshivas Darchei Torah. Students early childhood programs, congrega- have varying disabilities including cere- tional schools and day schools. bral palsy, Down syndrome, language "Opening the Doors, a nationally impairment, intellectual disability and recognized program, is very proud of its autism spectrum disorders. collaboration with Jewish day schools Through much discussion, consid- for 19 years and the many children who eration and planning, JARC's SIP will have been included and engaged in a transition to a collaborative venture Jewish education through our services," with Jewish Federation's Opening the said Ellen Maiseloff, associate director, Doors program beginning July 1. special education, for the Alliance. "We At this time, JARC is seeking new look forward to our collaboration with partners to implement and continue the the School Inclusion Program and the success of the SIP program," said JARC opportunity to implement enhanced CEO Rick Loewenstein. services for students with diverse learn- "Working in collaboration with ing differences:' Federation's Alliance for Jewish Chaya Leah Tinman, JARC's school Education will allow JARC the ability to inclusion coordinator and its leader build upon the Alliance's Opening the since its inception, will work closely Doors Program's experience and exper- with Opening the Doors leadership and tise in this area and relationships within staff as a consultant to the program. the schools:' Over the course of the academic year, He added that JARC has come to Federation will review if and how the realize the SIP is outside of its core mis- SIP could best be integrated into other community on-going programs and sion of providing residential and subse- quent support services. services as well as work with JARC to Cheryl Guyer, current co-chair of explore options for the future continua- the Alliance and past JARC president, tion of the program.