--- title: Making Philly More Accessible description: Making Philly More Accessible image: https://blog.jewishphilly.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/jdaim-photo-thumbnail.jpg --- [![Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia](https://blog.jewishphilly.org/hubfs/JewishFederation_May2019/images/logo--color.svg)](https://jewishphilly.org/) - [Philly Stands With Israel](https://go.jewishphilly.org/philly-stands-with-israel) - - [Donate to Philly Stands with Israel Fund](https://donate.jewishphilly.org/page/66252/donate/1) - [Community Resources](https://jewishphilly.org/philly-stands-with-israel-resources/) - [Emergency Allocations](https://jewishphilly.org/ways-to-give/donate-emergency-response-fund/emergency-allocations/) - - [Advocate](https://jewishphilly.org/philly-stands-with-israel-resources/advocate/) - [Israel in the News](https://go.jewishphilly.org/israel-in-the-news) - [Sign up for Israel Emergency Emails](https://go.jewishphilly.org/israel-emergency-emails) - [Who We Are](https://jewishphilly.org/who-we-are/) - 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According to the U.S. Census, one in five people has some kind of learning, cognitive, physical and/or developmental disability. Mindful of the need to make Jewish communal life welcoming to people of all abilities, Whole Community Inclusion was formed to make Jewish programming accessible for families raising kids with special needs. That includes creating sensory-friendly jkidphilly programs (like a Purim party with the noise level turned down, or with a designated “quiet space”); expanding education for synagogue leaders and early childhood educators; compiling downloadable lesson plans and resources; and advocating on behalf of special needs families through the Jewish Disability Inclusion Consortium of Greater Philadelphia, a group which includes our Jewish Federation. And every February, Whole Community Inclusion programming kicks into high gear. February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), an international initiative now in its 11th year, celebrated locally with “[JDAIM Shabbat](https://jewishlearningventure.org/what-we-do/whole-community-inclusion/jewish-disability-awareness-inclusion-month/)”: a month’s worth of services, panels, movies and speakers at more than 20 synagogues across the region. Rabbi Phil Warmflash, Executive Director of Jewish Learning Venture, points out that the awareness raised on JDAIM Shabbat ultimately benefits everyone. “In order to create truly inclusive communities, *all* community members need to better understand the complex issues facing people with disabilities—whether this personally impacts their family or not,” he says. Or, as Whole Community Inclusion’s [JDAIM downloadable coloring book for kids](https://jewishlearningventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Bookreduced-1.pdf) puts it: *It’s important to think about how you like to be treated and treat your friends that way. Be kind!* *When you take time to understand friends who are different from you, you are showing kindness/*hesed*. That is an important Jewish value.* For a full calendar of JDAIM Shabbat programming, [click here](https://jewishlearningventure.org/calendar/action~month/exact_date~1548997200/request_format~json/). For more about Whole Community Inclusion, [click here](https://jewishlearningventure.org/families-raising-children-with-special-needs/). 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