SA/TO By Month
Program Ideas: May

Programs:

1. Have a speaker:
   At an event or an event in itself, have a USYer or someone known to the USY community speak about a disability that has affected their life or a life of a loved one. Hearing it from a person USYers know has double the impact. Have them talk about the stereotypes and difficulties they encounter, which is especially powerful with the more common disabilities that USYers may think they know about already. Examples: deafness, blindness, diabetes [Type 1 or Type 2], ADD, OCD, etc.
2. Create some empathy:
   At lounge, have USYers read magazines with thick mittens on [MS], button coats with rubber gloves [arthritis], or tour a temple/lounge with a partner, blindfold and cane.
3. Having a movie night?
   Play it on mute with closed captioning and insist on absolute silence. While you’re having your movie night, try Simon Birch. This 1998 movie is a tearjerker, for sure. Simon Birch was the size of a hand when he was born, and not expecting to live long. Twelve years later, he is still exceptionally tiny for his age, but has a sense of purpose and optimism that help him deal with the realities of his disability.
4. Join up with a bigger community:
   Volunteer at a local walk to benefit research for a disability. Sign up a group to direct walkers, hand out water or whatever will help make the fundraiser run smoother. With spring, benefit walks pop up every weekend; just be sure that USYers volunteer for Sunday walks!
5. Visit a nursing home and ask the staff to give a special prep speech on dealing with the disabled. They’ll appreciate your visiting and the proper respect that the freshly reminded USYers will give them.
6. If your temple does not already carry large print siddurim and hearing amplifiers, encourage them to do so. These help sure that everyone is able to hear and feel a part of the services.
7. Record books on tape for the visually impaired to donate to local schools for the blind or other organizations.
8. Collections: old prescription glasses.