The Worthy Project
I believe that the Jewish people have a special social responsibility to improve access for and representation of disabled people in our communities. Our culture empowers us to do so because our cultures share a common dark period in our history. "The Worthy Project" is an attempt at a small step in that direction.
Our Shared History
"On July 14, 1933, the Nazi government instituted the “Law for the Prevention of Progeny with Hereditary Diseases.” This law, one of the first steps taken by the Nazis toward their goal of creating an Aryan “master race,” called for the sterilization of all persons who suffered from diseases considered hereditary, such as mental illness, learning disabilities, physical deformity, epilepsy, blindness, deafness, and severe alcoholism. With the law’s passage the Third Reich also stepped up its propaganda against people with disabilities, regularly labeling them “life unworthy of life” or “useless eaters” and highlighting their burden upon society." - United State Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Over a quarter million people with disabilities were murdered during the Holocaust. One way we can honor them is to reach out to people with disabilities in our communities and support them the way they want to be supported, to ensure that they can participate in society fully and inclusively. To treat their life, at all times and in all ways, as worthy.
Over a quarter million people with disabilities were murdered during the Holocaust. One way we can honor them is to reach out to people with disabilities in our communities and support them the way they want to be supported, to ensure that they can participate in society fully and inclusively. To treat their life, at all times and in all ways, as worthy.
An Easy Step: Learning ASL
A basic and easy (and fun!) step we can take is to begin to learn ASL so that we can communicate more easily with deaf people. There are almost 900 Jewish day schools (AVI Chi) and over 180 summer camps in the Foundation for Jewish Camps. If just a fraction of these schools and camps made an effort to include ASL courses in their programming, we could have a huge influence on the number of ASL speakers in communities across the country. Just as importantly, we could show that inclusiveness and diversity are values of the Jewish community.
How to Join the Worthy Project
Joining the Worthy Project is easy: your school or camp or organization (whether Jewish or not!) agrees to offer a course, program, or assembly on ASL or another diversity outreach related to disabilities and signs the pledge to agree that making an effort to reach out to, support, and be inclusive of people with disabilities is a value important to your organization. Individuals, such as students and teachers, can also sign the pledge.
Why Join the Worthy Project?
- The Worthy Project is free to join. All the course materials on this site are free to use.
- The ASL course provided here can be taught by anyone - no experience needed! It can be taught on a flexible schedule and requires very few materials, so it has almost no cost and can be used as a filler activity for after-school programs or rainy days at camp.
- Kids love to learn ASL! This course is both fun and educational.
- Joining the Worthy Project is a great way to show all students at your school the values that you stand for and to help teach them that simple, small steps can be taken to increase inclusiveness and build community.
- Your support may inspire other schools or camps to get involved, and may help individuals at your school to take efforts to build community. Your efforts will multiply!
- There's no downside: a free, fun, flexible, easy-to-do educational activity that helps to build community at your school or camp and support people with disabilities in your community!
Get on the Map - Sign up!
Support for the Worthy Project
We are very proud to be included in the Resources List of Lilith Magazine. Lilith is an "independent, Jewish, and frankly feminist" magazine and we're so honored to have this course shared there!
Thank's to Jewish UnCamp for including this course in their programming for next summer - so exciting!
Thank's to Jewish UnCamp for including this course in their programming for next summer - so exciting!
Fundraisers and Service Projects
What if you don't have the availability or capacity for an ASL intro course, but you want to get involved? What if you already finished the course and want to find other ways to help? Fundraising for a deaf school or other school or program that serves students with disabilities can be a great way to get involved!
Over the past year, we have done fundraisers for the Marlton School for the Deaf in LA and the Anusarnsunthorn School for the Deaf in Thailand. We were able to donated needed supplies--toys and art supples for the Marlton School and personal care products for the Anusarsunthorn school.
It is easy to find projects that need funding in special education classrooms on DonorsChoose.Org. If you aren't already familiar with it, Donors Choose lets teachers in the US share projects that need funding in their classroom so that donors can donate directly to that teacher's project. What a cool way to find a project that's a good match for your group or fundraiser!
If you'd like to raise funds for the Anusarsunthorn School for the Deaf in Thailand, please contact me. Even $25 can make a big difference, as the students live at the school and often do not have the money for simple supplies such as milk, soap, paper, and feminine hygiene supplies. (Note: please do not collect donated items for the school, as shipping can be expensive. I can help you donate funds directly so they can be used to purchase and donate supplies in Thailand, and you will receive photos and a receipt.)
Over the past year, we have done fundraisers for the Marlton School for the Deaf in LA and the Anusarnsunthorn School for the Deaf in Thailand. We were able to donated needed supplies--toys and art supples for the Marlton School and personal care products for the Anusarsunthorn school.
It is easy to find projects that need funding in special education classrooms on DonorsChoose.Org. If you aren't already familiar with it, Donors Choose lets teachers in the US share projects that need funding in their classroom so that donors can donate directly to that teacher's project. What a cool way to find a project that's a good match for your group or fundraiser!
If you'd like to raise funds for the Anusarsunthorn School for the Deaf in Thailand, please contact me. Even $25 can make a big difference, as the students live at the school and often do not have the money for simple supplies such as milk, soap, paper, and feminine hygiene supplies. (Note: please do not collect donated items for the school, as shipping can be expensive. I can help you donate funds directly so they can be used to purchase and donate supplies in Thailand, and you will receive photos and a receipt.)
Donating art supplies and classroom materials at the Marlton School
Talking with students at the Marlton School
You wouldn't think of feminine hygiene supplies as school supplies, but each $1 pack here means that a girl doesn't have to stay home from school for a day. To help support the Anusarsunthorn School for the Deaf in Thailand, please contact me.
Donation items being received by the school in Thailand.
