A Neurodivergent-Affirming Bar Mitzvah
If there was one thing my student Joey wanted everyone to remember from his bar mitzvah, it was this: the Red Sox are the greatest baseball team in the world. This theme was clear from… Read More
Stories
The Slifka Day School Inclusion Initiative
Tamara and Angie never imagined that their son Austin could attend a Jewish day school. Born with neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes tumor growth on nerve tissue, Austin has negotiated developmental delays, motor challenges and attention difficulties throughout his life. Read More
What Volunteering at Gateways Can Do
Before Alanna came to Gateways, she had always known on some level that she wanted to work with kids. However, it was the three formative years she spent volunteering with Gateways’ Jewish Education Program that… Read More
Isabella’s Bat Mitzvah: A Mother’s Reflections
By Cara Coller As I sat down to write this, for once in my life I was at a loss. Not at what to say, but how to express what it means to be Isabella’s… Read More
An Invitation to Opened Gates
I returned to my dorm room with a piece of mail in my hand. This wasn’t just any piece of mail; it was the invitation to my Gateways student Izzy’s bat mitzvah. Read More
Our Spectrum
I have twin 14-year-old sons, Sam and Jack. Jack’s development is typical; Sam’s development began to shift when he was 18 months old. Read More
Reflections on a Special Bat Mitzvah
October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and in the spirit of the time, I have been reflecting on my lovely 19-year-old daughter Ashley, and one of the most memorable days in her childhood, her… Read More
A Teen Volunteer’s Reflections
Not a day goes by where I do not discuss how much I love being a teen volunteer at Gateways. Read More
A Bat Mitzvah Journey – a Tutor’s Perspective
“Amen”. Temana chanted beautifully, after reciting with confidence the blessings after the Torah. Read More