On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Elaine Hall, founder of The Miracle Project and contributor to "A Different Spirit: Creating Meaningful B'nai Mitzvah for Children with Disabilities."
The Miracle Project is a fully inclusive theatre, film and social program for neurodivergent, autistic, disabled and non-disabled individuals. "A Different Spirit" addresses creating a similar, but different type of community experience.
The book, compiled by Howard Blas and Ilana Trachtman, offers guidance around celebrating b'nai mitzvah for youth who experience the world differently. It brings together educators, parents, and advocates — including Hall — to share models of ceremonies that are creative, accessible, and personal.
"I had created one of the first b'nai mitzvah programs for autistic youth a number of years ago, called Nes Gadol, through Vista Del Mar," she explains. "My son, Neal, was the first bar mitzvah, so they asked me to share my ideas."
Celebrations are often built around food, but Hall believes they should also be built around awareness. When planning a b'nai mitzvah or any large gathering, she encourages families to think beyond tradition.
"Each child is different; each person is different," she says. "Tune into what that child wants and what makes them happy … If the child loves French fries … even though that may not be typical at a celebration, make sure there's French fries on that table."
Inclusion is not just something to recognize during February for Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM); it is something to practice all year long.
"To be inclusive is really natural," Hall says. "It takes 60 seconds to be open, willing, and curious."