Kulanu Programs

KULANU is a parent founded organization developed with help from the Orthodox Caucus in 2000.

KULANU was established to answer the needs of parents who had children with disabilities and felt disenfranchised from the Yeshivot, synagogues and Jewish life activities.

KULANU addresses the need for advocacy, programs, education and sensitivity of the larger Jewish community.

SHABBAT SHADOW PROGRAM
Serving children with special needs in local community synagogues to enable them to attend youth groups with support from volunteer teens.

SUNDAY ACTIVITIES INCLUSION PROGRAM
3 hours of adaptive art, music, sports and other special interest activities with community children and teen shadows run by professional therapists.

SWIM PROGRAM
Instructional group and individual swim lessons, held at the JCC in Oceanside.

SOCIAL SKILLS GROUP
Weekly after school groups serving children who need social skills to enhance their interactive skills at school and in the community. Children are grouped by age and ability.

CAMP WITHIN A CAMP PROGRAM
Held at Camp Hillel, a self-contained program with mainstreaming opportunities. The emphasis of the program is social skill acquisition.

CAMP PROGRAMS, INFORMATION AND REFERRALS on self contained, inclusion, overnight camps. Information and referrals to appropriate day and overnight camps; Consultations with camp staff, training and supervision of shadows to support inclusionary camp experiences; match shadows to campers needs.

HOLIDAY RESPITE AND RECREATION PROGRAM
Opportunities for children in self-contained public school programs to attend recreational activities when school is not in session. Once a week after school respite program allows children to be involved in appropriate activities while providing family respite.

HOLIDAY INCLUSION PROGRAM
Opportunities for children with disabilities who attend public school program to participate in local Yeshivot when schools are not in session.

PARENT ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE CENTER

Consultations and Sensitivity Training to schools and summer camps, to help them develop a more inclusive view of children with disabilities and increasing inclusion-building skills.

Ongoing Support Groups. Offering a variety of support groups for mothers, fathers, siblings and extended family members to deal with the impact of having a special needs family member.

Community Seminars. Topics geared to parents, teachers, therapists, caregivers, and members of the community who need information pertaining to general issues of child development, education and family life. Topics and dates to be announced.

Guest Speakers. Conducted at various synagogues throughout the Jewish community to raise awareness of the needs of children and adults with disabilities.

Information and Referral. For parents of children with special needs to provide information and referral for behavioral and educational issues.

Resource Library. Books, periodicals, multi-media materials supporting family life issues as they present themselves. Information on: typical and atypical developmental; life cycle events, child and family management; educational materials.

KULANU
P.O. Box 305 / Cedarhurst, NY 11516 / Tel: 516-569-6664 Fax: 516-569-0483
e-mail: info@kulanukids.org