A Part or Apart?-The Books

A Part or Apart? Disability and Inclusion in the Faith Community Photographs and Discussion Materials by Jane Strauss

A Part or Apart? The Books
Disability and Inclusion in the Faith Community
Everybody's Talking About ''A Part or Apart?''

As a person diagnosed on the Autism spectrum in midlife, I have struggled for decades to decipher the rules of a faith community in which all rules and norms are implied. This challenge has resulted in frequent exclusion, at times well-meaning and often cruel. The very community that many in American society assume will be most accepting of the individual is often lacking in acceptance.

I put forth the images in this book with hope that their wide availability may stimulate discussion of the current state of inclusion of people with disability in the Jewish community and in other faith communities. Discussion is a start – it may raise some uncomfortable issues. Does the community wish to give people with disabilities the message that we are defective or unworthy? Does it give that message anyway? What is inclusion, beyond installing an elevator and ramps for wheelchair access? What kinds of programs work, and how can we expand them? How can people with disabilities be meaningfully included in community life, including worship?

The images in this collection started as color photos of my son Rafi taken to illustrate a social story about proper Shul (synagogue) behavior. My insightful friend Henry Allen suggested that I convert the images into black and white. One look at them provided a small and vital step to seeing an exhibit focusing on disability and inclusion. Others suggested that I broaden the scope of the project to include a spectrum of people with disabilities. I developed a broader proposal for an exhibit at the Sabes Jewish Community Center in St. Louis Park, Minnesota which was accepted for display in winter, 2011.

By the summer of 2010, I kicked into what I thought would be high gear, recruiting people to participate by allowing me, 'the Paparazzi', to follow them around and conduct a brief interview. After a rocky start when I was told by one institution that ''we include children so well in our program that parents don't want them 'outed' as disabled so there are none you can photograph,'' I met and photographed a number of feisty, successful Jews who have disabilities, and who make efforts to participate in their community. (When you swim upstream, against odds and typicality, you have to be feisty to survive.)

These photographs show situations in which inclusion does work, and in which small accommodations make big differences in people's lives. A boy with multiple disabilities participates in a small swim class with typical children. A young man meets his job coach/1:1 aide, works at the Temple on education night and also participates in activities with the Religious School. People with disabilities work out with personal trainers at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) gym, helping give structure to their weeks and tone to their bodies. A young man who uses a wheelchair travels to the JCC weekly to volunteer in the Fitness Center and work out with a trainer. People with disabilities participate in leadership of policy committees.

The resulting exhibit was mounted in conjunction with Jewish Disability Awareness Month in February 2011. Responding to the show's success, Rimon: the Minnesota Jewish Arts Council and the Howard B. and Ruth F. Brin Arts Endowment provided funds to help cover initial costs of producing this book and the discussion guides.

This is a black and white photo of a young boy at a desk taken from the side and bwehind him.

This is an image of a middle aged woman seated at a table, taken from the front.

Jane Strauss
is a self-taught
photographer,
Mom, advocate, poet,
seeker of truths, and
attorney-in-remission.
She has sought in
spiritual paths for
decades, is a proud
Aspie, and lacks the
social convention that prevents most people
from speaking truth to power. Her photographs speak to the heart,
the soul, and sometimes
the funny-bone.

"Jane Strauss has given a beautiful gift to the interfaith community in offering this helpful insight into a population group feared and not understood and so often excluded from full participation. Even though it's a difficult subject to talk about, it's a must if we are serious about God's love for all children. As a long time child advocate within the interfaith community, I heartily recommend this excellent work, sensitively prepared, for all congregations."

This is a black and white image, taken from behind of a young man alone dribbling a basketball in a large gym.

"The work is done for us. All that is left is the gathering of our community of faith and walking through the material. The poignant question, "What is the harvest from including people with disabilities?" is haunting and will, no doubt, change our lives. Thank you, Jane Strauss, for caring enough to give this thoughtful and powerful tool. May you be blessed in return."

Norma Bourland, Children's Defense Fund

This is a black and white image of a young man folding a tallit.

"Jane Strauss is one of the few people who has the courage to raise the issue of inclusion of special children in our places of worship...she shines a beacon of light into the darkness; hers is a voice speaking out for G-d's children, offering them hope that places of worship will change to enable special children (and adults) to come to learn of their Creator."

Paul A. Green, PhD, Church of Christ

"This is a very powerful and moving story that must be told"

Rabbi Herschel Finman, The Jewish Hour radio program

" I was overwhelmed by the power of the text and of the photos."

Jerry Blue, children's librarian and storyteller