At Gateways, inclusion isn’t just a value — it’s why we do everything we do.
Earlier this week, Gateways partnered with Agudath Israel of New England and MA CAPE to convene a community roundtable with Representative Kenneth Gordon, Chair of the Massachusetts House Education Committee, along with Representative Tommy Vitolo (Brookline). The goal was for policymakers to hear directly from families, educators, and students about the realities of accessing special education services and funding in private schools.
Why it Matters
For many families in our community, discussing legislative policies is more than a theoretical exercise in advocacy. Whether children and teens with disabilities, diverse learning needs, and mental health challenges are able to have their needs met can determine everything from school options to a family’s sense of belonging.
Making Our Voices Heard
Remarkably, the most powerful voices in the room were not the adults. Two high school students from different Boston-area Jewish day schools spoke courageously about their own learning differences and the supports that helped them succeed. These students relayed the significance of being able to be part of Jewish day school communities because they received services like those that Gateways provides. Their authenticity and determination reminded us all what is possible when young people feel supported and empowered.
What Comes Next
For years, Gateways has helped to bring our educators and families into conversation with policymakers, so that decisions about education are informed by the lived experiences of families actively navigating that system. I’m grateful to Chair Gordon and Representative Vitolo for taking the time to engage and listen thoughtfully to their stories. This is how we ensure that every child has the opportunity to access the education and support they need, in the environment that is right for them.
Thank you for being part of the community that makes this work possible.
About the Author
Tamar Davis
As a person born with a disability and parent of a child with a disability, Tamar is keenly aware of the ongoing need for advocacy and accessibility for disability inclusion and education for children and families in the global Jewish community. In August 2020, Tamar became CEO of Gateways: Access to Jewish Education, after having served as the Chief Development Officer for the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston. Before that, Tamar had worked for over a decade at Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America and Hadassah International, most recently as Hadassah’s National Director of Annual Giving. Tamar is an active volunteer in the Greater Boston Jewish community, having previously served as a member of Gateways’ Board of Trustees and as Board Chair of Young Israel of Brookline. When she lived in Manhattan, Tamar was a Vice President of Congregation Ohab Zedek, a member of JNFuture’s Leadership Ring, and co-founded ViZion, a growing network of professionals working for Jewish, Israel and Zionist-related non-profits (now managed by the American Zionist Movement). Tamar has a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Yeshiva University’s Syms School of Business. A proud stepmother and mother to five children, Tamar lives with her husband, Allan Galper, in Brookline, MA.