Supporting Inclusion Across Jewish Atlanta

Did you know that one in five individuals lives with a disability? JAccess, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, is dedicated to creating a community where everyone belongs. We celebrate the unique abilities of every individual and amplify the voices of people with disabilities.

Through JAccess, the Federation provides synagogues, camps, schools, and organizations across Jewish Atlanta with the tools and resources needed to welcome and include everyone. Together, we’re fostering a stronger, more inclusive Jewish community for all generations.

Advocacy Work

JAccess Impact Report

VISIT JACCESS FACEBOOK PAGE

JAccess Large Scale Grant Application

Apply! JAccess Accessibility Fund

Amy Murphy

Director, JAccess

Lindsey Flax

JAccess Training Coordinator

What We Do

Lift the voices and perspectives of people with disabilities across Jewish Atlanta.
Foster collaboration and planning around disability inclusion across the Jewish ecosystem.
Increase the capacity of Jewish Atlanta agencies in creating a community where people with disabilities are engaged, supported, and feel a sense of belonging.

Grant Resources

Jewish Terminology Checklist for Grantmakers Accessible Grant-Making Guide Grant Writing Guide

JAccess Community Initiatives

Community Programs
Programs that lift the voices and perspectives of people with disabilities while fostering shared community dialogue and a vision for disability inclusion.
Training
Training for professionals, lay leaders, volunteers, and students to increase awareness of people with disabilities and the barriers they face engaging in Jewish life. In 2024, JAccess provided training to 1,372 community members.
JAccess Inclusion Grants
Grants designed to foster community inclusion projects. In 2024, JAccess awarded funding for 24 inclusion projects.
The Ina Enoch Training Fund
Providing funding to Atlanta professionals and lay leaders seeking skill-building opportunities around disability inclusion.
Information and Referral
Helping individuals and professionals connect to essential local resources.

Engaging Synagogues

JAccess has a long history of supporting synagogues and religious schools in becoming welcoming communities for all. JAccess offers a Disability Awareness and Accessibility Education Project designed to help synagogues create inclusive communities for people with disabilities. This initiative ensures that spaces, information, and materials are accessible, and that community members understand the social model of disability and the importance of fostering inclusivity.

Please contact Amy Murphy at amurphy@jewishatlanta.org if you’re interested.

Educational Support:

Jewish classroom observations and inclusion strategy consultations.
A Shared Resource Library, loaning curriculum, sensory materials, and a beautiful illustrated Torah, to Jewish educational settings.
Skill building trainings for educators, including Bright from the Start certified trainings for early childhood professionals.

Early Child Education Initiative

JAccess believes that by supporting attitudinal changes and upskilling preschool staff to build their inclusion competencies, it could increase their capacity and knowledge, enabling them to develop and implement strategies to ensure preschools are more inclusive and that students with disabilities are welcomed and supported in the classroom.

JAccess commenced a professional development initiative in partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta/Marcus Autism and five Jewish preschools across Atlanta are participating in 2025. This initiative aims to equip educators with the skills and knowledge needed to support neurodivergent children, fostering a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. Through targeted training and ongoing coaching, JAccess is committed to empowering preschools to implement effective strategies and resources for children with diverse learning needs. 

For more information, please contact Amy Murphy at amurphy@jewishatlanta.org.

Events

JAccess Training Initiative

Accessibility in Jewish Atlanta promotes equal participation in Jewish life. The JAccess initiative is committed to a vision of creating opportunities for building ordinary lives in a thriving Jewish Atlanta. We provide training to improve understanding and practices of accessibility and belonging. Our training program offers several benefits, including:

Awareness and Acceptance: Training helps individuals and organizations identify barriers for people with disabilities and highlights the importance of inclusivity.

Professional Development: It provides practical skills for creating accessible environments in physical spaces, programming, and communication.

Policy Implementation: Training guides organizations in developing policies that promote accessibility and inclusion, ensuring legal compliance and ethical practices.

Community Engagement: Participants learn to engage with diverse backgrounds, fostering stronger relationships and collaboration.

Sustainable Change: Ongoing training encourages a culture of continuous improvement, making accessibility and belonging core aspects of community life.

Interested in learning more? Check out the training guide here.

Why invest in JAccess training?
Investing in training helps Jewish Atlanta build an inclusive community. JAccess training offers donor-funded courses for advocates, professionals, and disability rights leaders in in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats. Contact Lindsey Flax at lflax@jewishatlanta.org to discuss your learning journey.

Ina Enoch Training Fund
Training support is available for community professionals and lay leaders who wish to attend professional development opportunities that support the inclusion of individuals with disabilities and their families. Individuals wishing to apply for funding may do so by submitting a completed Training Fund Application. The completed application must be submitted no less than 8 weeks prior to the training date. Applications must include organization and/or individual financial participation. Applicants will be informed of the final decision within 2–4 weeks of submission.

Apply Here:

Application – Ina Enoch Training Fund

JAccess Resources

Inclusive Language Guide