Ironically, the 6-hour webinar hosted by Access Israel on Tuesday, entitled “Accessible and Inclusive Remote Education for Students with Disabilities during and post COVID-19,” was longer than the school day for many students around the world.  And, unlike students around the world who are returning to in-person learning, the more than 500 participants and 23 presenters from over 75 countries (from Rwanda to Nepal!)  didn’t even need to wear masks, wash hands frequently or maintain distance from peers and teachers!  The content of the webinar was amazing, though it is admittedly difficult to sit for so long—and to absorb so much content.

I enjoyed learning from experts at Google and Microsoft and many other countries and organizations about accessibility features I never knew about—so many text to speech options, translation, captioning options and more—useful to ALL users.  I hope to write more about these in future blogs.  A quick example:  read all about Microsoft Accessibility features here. There is useful info on Microsoft Accessibility Mobility Features, Hearing Features, Mental Health Features, Cognitive Features, Vision Features and Speech Features.

I particularly enjoyed hearing about special education in a range of countries—and how the countries supported learners with disabilities during the Covid pandemic.  This is particularly relevant as all learners in all countries are in the process of returning to some form of education (in person, virtual, blended/hybrid). And this is complex even for learners without disabilities.

Racheli Abramson of Israel shared date on her country:  there are 2,200,000 school students in Israel, and 209,000 are in special education.  She reported that 170,000 of those students are integrated in to “standard classes.”   I am fairly certain she reported that 67,500 are in special (self-contained) classes). Even as the country closed schools for most learners, Israel “kept special education institutions opened daily for face to face instruction, as possible—to maintain the familiar study routine.”    They also tried to work with parents to answer their questions, find other solutions, etc.  [I will need to confirm these numbers above as they sound very high—especially in light of confirmed numbers below for New York City].

Christina Foti, Deputy Chief Academic Officer, Division of Specialized Instruction and Student Support at NYC Department of Education, reports that there are 1.1 million students in the New York City school system and 300,00 have disabilities; 25,000 with the highest need are in what is called District 75.   I was very impressed hearing Christina speak about how they partnered with Apple, who provided over 300,000 Ipods to students with the greatest need including those with disabilities and those in temporary housing.  They also partnered with internet companies to make sure students could have internet service for their online learning. 

In Austria, only 3% of students (3000 out of 1.1 million) are in special education. Andrea Reiger reported that they did not have internet access issues in Austria, but did rely on the Ministry of Education to provide 12 million Euros for Tablets. 

Perhaps most enlightening was learning about education in Namibia, Located near Angola and Botswana in southwest Africa.  Regina Hasiku reported that there are 3000 students with disabilities out of 850,000 total students.  There are 11 special education schools in Namibia.  Students did not have access to computers.  The schools quickly realized that most had access to radio and newspapers so all lessons, including worksheets and booklets, were offered through these channels.

It is always exciting to meet with colleagues from around the world.  The Access Israel Conference held in Israel each year is one amazing in person opportunity to learn from others.  This year, there was no in person conference.  Thank you, Access Israel, for so far offering 4 international webinars.  In the words of founder, Yuval Wagner, they are “for sharing best practices and knowledge, in order to improve the quality of life, accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities – leaving no one behind.”

Access Israel has done the hard part—creating a successful forum for bringing so many great people together.  One request for next time–shorter sessions and more coffee and bathroom breaks!




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Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

This year’s US Open is unquestionably different – without Israelis, fans or in-person coverage

Back in March, September’s US Open tennis event seemed like a pipe dream. Despite no-shows like Rafael Nadal, a recuperating Roger Federer, and such top women’s players as women’s No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, former French Open and reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, No. 5 Elina Svitotolina and current US Open champ Bianca Andreescu, the tournament is taking place as planned – and is entering round 4 with such top players as Novak Djokavic and Serena Williams still alive.

The United States Tennis Association has taken every precaution imaginable to work toward a safe tournament – including no fans, no media, and frequent COVID-19 tests for all players, who are essentially required to live in a bubble. At a press conference before the tournament, Michael Dowse, CEO and executive director of the USTA; Stacey Allaster, USTA chief executive of professional tennis, US Open tournament director; and Dr. Bernard Camins, medical director for infection prevention for the Mt. Sinai Health Systems, member of the USTA Medical Advisory Group, detailed the multi-tiered system in place for players and guests, tournament officials, broadcasters and event staff. The system was set up to limit interactions.

“We have worked through dozens of scenarios so we can anticipate situations that could arise during the tournaments, planned for them accordingly, and are ready and able to adapt,” said Dr. Camins. “We have been in close consultation with the USTA, the WTA, ATP and other tennis officials so that we could create the current version of our testing and mitigation strategy.”

Even with such precautions in place, it was clear from the outset that the system would be imperfect. As the tournament got underway last Monday, seven players were placed in a “bubble within the bubble” because they were in contact with Benoit Paire, a French player who tested positive and was forced to drop out of the tournament. This past Saturday, US Open Public Relations issued a statement on the women’s doubles team of Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos, forced to withdraw before their second-round match.

No Israelis qualified for this year’s US Open. In past years, such Israeli players as Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, Dudi Sela, Shahar Peer, Julia Glushko and juniors like Yshai Oliel generated a great deal of excitement among loyal Jewish and Israeli fans.

Andy Ram, whose illustrious career included three Grand Slam wins and multiple appearances on behalf of Israel at both the Davis Cup and Olympics, is keeping an eye on the US Open – even six years after retiring from professional tennis. In a recent interview with The Jerusalem Post, Ram noted that he is especially interested in seeing how the US Open pulls off this event in the age of coronavirus.

“It is such an operation. It is one of the biggest sports events in the world, next to the Olympics,” noted Ram. “It is two weeks and big money. It will be interesting to see how they get back and manage to pull it off and bring all of the players. If they can find a solution, maybe the rest of the sports world will follow. I am really looking forward!”

Julia Glushko, Israel’s recently retired tennis star, played in eight US Opens between 2011 and 2019. At last year’s US Open, she lost 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the qualifiers to Katarina Zavatska. Glushko, 29, admits to having some FOMO – fear of missing out – by not being at this year’s US Open.

“It’s actually a bit weird not being in NYC at this time of the year,” she told the Post. “Even though everything has stopped and I haven’t been feeling like I’m missing out on much, I do feel a bit left out seeing everyone posting about the bubble.”

Players are required to live at one of two Long Island hotels, and they are not permitted to venture out of the bubble into Manhattan. Masks are required while on the grounds of the US Open – even during massage and courtside physio sessions. And dining is essentially alone or socially distanced.

The US Open has been working hard to provide a meaningful player experience. And the players are appreciative.

A very large entertainment space usually used by Mercedes-Benz to host important clients, now houses treadmills and exercise bicycles in an open-air gym-type space. The South Plaza of Arthur Ashe Stadium is a make-shift entertainment center used to entice the athletes to stay outdoors as much as possible. It features cornhole sets, a temporary mini-golf course, a human-size chess board, billiards, white Adirondack chairs, umbrellas and beach balls. Hanging out in the locker room for long periods of time is not an option this year.

Organizers have converted 67 of the 80 suites inside of Arthur Ashe stadium. They feature furniture which can easily be cleaned, stocked refrigerators, Lavazza espresso machines and a physio table to each suite. The top 32 male and female are given luxury suites.

Kim Clijsters, a three-time champion in the main draw of the US Open, was lucky enough to receive one of the three unclaimed suites. The 37-year-old mother of three reported, “The suite has been great. Just the convenience for me, I wasn’t seeded, but to receive a suite was obviously a big bonus. We felt very thankful to be up there and to watch the tennis the last couple of days.”

Players are generally pleased to be here, though quite aware of the obvious contrast to past years.

Andy Murray, who came back from two sets down to win a thrilling first-round match, in his first time at the US Open since 2018, reported: “I’m pumped. It’s obviously slightly strange circumstances this year with no fans and stuff here. That’s one of the things I enjoy about competing.”

Murray does, however, appreciate how easy it is to walk the grounds without being stopped by fans.

“When you’re walking to and from practice, you have to get somewhere for a certain time, it’s nice. You know that there’s no one around, that you’re not going to get stopped. Yeah, it’s very quiet and very relaxed.”

But he conceded that “on the whole, I’d way rather this place was filled with people that are excited to come and watch tennis. Yeah, I miss that.”

Players continue to express their appreciation to the US Open at both media sessions and on social media. On Twitter, Sloane Stephens wrote: “Thank you to the @usopen for keeping us safe in our bubble for the next few weeks. Testing, social distancing, hand sanitizing, masks, and all of that goodness plus some tennis!!”

Kirsten Flipkens tweeted: “Impressed by the organization of the @usta Thumbs up! Have really done a good job to provide a safe environment for players and their teams.”

At the hotels, players can enjoy an outdoor lounge and dining area which have been set up on the hotel parking lot, and they can watch both tennis matches and musicians on a live screen – while not using the golf simulator, fitness center and arcade.

While the players are watching matches from the hotel, from the grounds of the US Open, or from luxury suites, the 1,300 people who usually cover the US Open for newspapers, magazines and networks around the world, are doing so from the comforts of their homes – from Auckland, London, Shanghai, Buenos Aires and New York. They are watching the event on their own television sets, and closely watching their hundred plus WhatsApp messages about players coming to the media center for interviews. We can ask questions in the chat, or on screen. Photos are made available from the few in-house tournament photographers.

While many members of the media spend most of their time each year inside the media center, watching monitors and writing, there is nothing like the excitement of wandering the grounds of the US Open, watching matches courtside, and interviewing players in person. This reporter, who has been covering the US Open courtside and from the media center for the past 15 years, shares Julia Glushko’s FOMO.

This year, there is no opportunity for chance or arranged meetings with Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors, or Chris Evert. There will be no one-on-ones after matches – win or lose – with Shahar, Julia or Dudi. There will be no spotting up-and-coming Israeli juniors. And of course, there is no seeing the true greats – Roger, Rafa or Serena – live, in action.

Despite this minor disappointment, we tip our tennis hats to the US Open for pulling of this absolutely unprecedented event. Praying to be back in Queens a year from now for next year’s US Open!

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Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

All services will be broadcast for free, live from New York’s Brooklyn Bowl, without an audience, via Fans.com.

NEW YORK – The coronavirus pandemic isn’t stopping The Brooklyn Bowl, the funky and famous bowling alley and music venue in Williamsburg, New York, from marking the High Holy Days, as it has done for the last nine years.This year’s “Bowl Hashana” will be online, however, as the venue’s owner, Peter Shapiro and the team at “Just Jewish” have gotten creative and found what they call “a suite of musically and spiritually driven High Holiday services” which also include Yom Kippur this year.

Four events – (all listed US East Coast, Brooklyn time) on the first night and first day of Rosh Hashanah (September 18 at 7:30 p.m. and September 19 at 10 a.m.), Kol Nidre (September 27 at 7 p.m.) and Yom Kippur day (September 28 at 10 a.m.) will be led by Rabbi Daniel Brenner and musical director and Antibalas co-founder, Jordan McClean. Jeremiah Lockwood, who was a member of Balkan Beat Box, will serve as musical and spiritual supervisor remotely.

“As a rabbi, I hope to draw on the spiritual power of the liturgy and ritual of the high holidays to speak directly to the anguish, soul-searching and desire for redemption that the last five months has brought upon us,” said Brenner. “Broadcasting the music and ritual of the Yamim Noraim [Days of Awe] from the Brooklyn Bowl, a place that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers associate with joy and the celebration of America’s musical diversity, will not only connect new audiences to ancient prayers, but will help comfort and inspire us at a time when we all could use some uplift.”Lockwood added, “I am grateful to have the chance to reunite this community at this deeply meaningful time of year. This format for presenting music will be unique in my experience as an artist and spiritual seeker, and I am very excited to see how the observers receive it!”
All services will be broadcast for free, live from New York’s Brooklyn Bowl, without an audience, via Fans.com.

Shapiro, publisher of Relix Magazine and a concert promoter, best known as the promoter for Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead,” is pleased Bowl Hashanah, and now Yom Kippur services, will continue to be offered at the Brooklyn Bowl, even during these unusual times.

“The Jewish Holidays are always a powerful time of the year, where renewal and hope and forgiveness help center us as we enter a new season and a new year. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be even more meaningful this year, given the significant challenges that we are facing on a daily basis. Personally, I can’t wait to hear the sound of the shofar. I am really hoping for a very strong blow at the Bowl, one that really clears out the pipes, of both the Internet and our souls!”

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There are so many creative holiday options and useful resources out there to make this most unusual Rosh Hashanah meaningful.

Last year, I wrote about Bowl Hashanah in a Jerusalem Post article.  Thanks to the generosity of Brooklyn Bowl owner and mensch extraordinaire, Peter Shapiro, a creative musical Rosh Hashanah takes place in this musical venue every year.   This year, they will expand, hosting 4 free online services from the Brooklyn Bowl.

Four events—on the first night and first day of Rosh Hashanah (Sept 18 at 7:30 pm ET and Sept 19 at 10 am ET), Kol Nidre (Sept 27 at 7 pm ET)) and Yom Kippur Day (Sept 28 at 10 am ET) will be led by Rabbi Daniel Brenner and musical director and Antibalas co-founder, Jordan McClean.  Jeremiah Lockwood, who was a member of Balkan Beat Box and Piedmont Blues musician Carolina Slim's Fraternal Order and has collaborated extensively with Antibalas, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Brian Chase and many others, will serve as musical and spiritual supervisor remotely.   Info on the free livestream on Fans.com is available here:

Synagogues are doing all kinds of creative things to bring Rosh Hashanah to the people. Most (especially Reform and Conservative) are offering Zoom only services, while some are offering shortened or blended options including morning services outdoors, or morning services on Zoom with afternoon/evening/tashlich and shofar outside.

Last week, I explored some creative options for Orthodox synagogues, which are not able to use technology on Shabbat and holidays

Earlier this week, I wrote about shuls from all denominations getting together in New York City for “Shofar in the Streets.   A wonderful model.

Just today, I came across resources which will surely be useful for families wishing to make Rosh Hashanah meaningful for their children.  One is from PJ library with their “High Holidays at Home Guide for Families”—a free download.

My Jewish Learning is offering a similar sounding resource:  “How To Celebrate the High Holidays at Home.”

They are also offering “Nine Things You Didn’t Know About Rosh Hashanah.”

Finally for today, I just discovered a very nice, recently released resource which is useful for families of children with disabilities, and for all children!  It is a social story from jkidaccess in Philadelphia! 

More to come….

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