Almost two years have passed since Covid-19 transformed almost everything about our lives.
The pandemic has been particularly painful for families and children with disabilities.
“For the vast majority of students, this pandemic has been a loss,” says Martha Goodman of Maryland Special Needs Advocacy Project (MDSNAP), a program of The Associated’s Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE). The program provides free educational advocacy services for Jewish children from birth to age 21.
“There’s been a loss of learning, social opportunities, and in-person therapies like occupational, physical and speech therapy. For instance, you can’t teach a child to navigate the playground equipment over Zoom. You really have to do that in person.”
Take Mom Tamara Kravitz, who felt overwhelmed when it came to advocating for her daughter’s educational needs during the pandemic.
“Virtual learning was not working for my daughter and her grades began to fall,” says Kravitz. “She had an IEP (Individualized Education Program) and a 504 Plan and I didn’t know how it all worked. When you have a child and you can’t find her help, you just want to cry.”
Fortunately, Kravitz was able to rely on MDSNAP and professionals like Goodman to help her daughter — who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning differences — obtain the special education services and therapies she required.
“Martha helped me navigate everything,” says Kravitz. She talked to the school and arranged for my daughter to get extra help. It’s been phenomenal. I can’t say enough good things about Martha and MDSNAP. We are so lucky to have this resource in our community.”
Rachel Turniansky, director of inclusion and disability services at the CJE says the outlook for children in special education remains challenging.
“Thankfully, most kids are back in school and that’s some help. But there is still a lot of the upheaval because there are so many teachers absent. Even transportation has been a mess this year.”
However, Turniansky says, the CJE has been able to offer some relief through the Jill Fox Memorial Fund. A supporting foundation of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore established more than 40 years ago, the fund provides grants to individuals with unmet medical and healthcare needs not paid for by medical insurance, government agencies or other kinds of financial support.
For example, last year when most children attended school remotely, funds from the Jill Fox Memorial Fund enabled families to afford equipment their children required to participate in virtual therapies from their homes.
“Usually, kids in occupational therapy have an opportunity to use different kinds of equipment with their therapists in the classroom,” says Turniansky. “But since they were doing virtual visits, they had no access to equipment. So, there were parents contacting us to access funding to get some of those kinds of things,” says Turniansky.
The Jill Fox Memorial Fund has also provided support for families in need of mental health services during the pandemic. “Whether it’s the transition back into school or just the disruption from last year, it’s having an impact on how children are doing in school this year,” says Turniansky.
“Most psychiatrists don’t accept health insurance and most families can’t afford their fees without it. Jill Fox Memorial Fund is not meant to replace insurance, but we’ve been able to provide funding for children to work with psychiatrists who need medication consultations or extra support during an educational transition.”
Turniansky says when families approach CJE to get assistance from the Jill Fox Memorial Fund or MDSNAP, it provides the opportunity to expose them to other resources available through the organization and the Baltimore Jewish community.
“When you have a kid with a significant challenge, you don’t necessarily prioritize connection to the Jewish community because you think, I have this kid who is really struggling and that’s my priority. Or you don’t realize that there’s a huge benefit to being part of a community. There’s a lot of support, a lot of great benefits to connecting to the community,” says Turniansky.
“Once families get started with us, they learn that they can really connect. Whether it’s finding a Sunday school that will be willing to accommodate them or finding a synagogue that’s a little bit more flexible and can be inclusive. It’s absolutely doable. And that’s what we try to do — support families to find that connection.”
February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month.
Check out these programs:
Collaboration: The Key to Success
For parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and related disorders.
February 15, 8:00 p.m.
Planning for the Future of your Loved Ones: An Introduction to First Maryland Disability Trust, Inc.
For parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and related disorders.
February 16, 1:00 p.m.
Baltimore Jewish Abilities Alliance Presents: A Conversation with American Disability Rights Activist Judy Heumann
February 22, 7:00 p.m.
ADD Like You!
A Virtual Meet-up for Kids with ADD in Grade 4 through High School
February 23, 7:30 p.m
JDAIM Tot Shabbat
Fridays at 11:00 a.m.
For a complete list, go to baltimore.jewishabilities.org/jdaim2022
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