Jewish spaces that welcome neurodivergent children

If you are raising a neurodivergent child in Melbourne Jewish community, where are the spaces that will genuinely welcome them?  

It’s a discussion that has come into sharp focus following a recent article in The Jewish Independent, where an anonymous parent described the painful experience trying to secure inclusion for their neurodiverse children in Jewish schools.  

There are youth movements and Hebrew schools that consciously welcome children with special needs, including neurodiversity.  

Here are three options.  

Hineni Youth and Welfare, a Zionist youth movement affiliated with the Australian Zionist Youth Council, welcomes neurodiverse children and works closely with parents to ensure their children can participate fully in weekly programs and sleepaway camps. 

Liav Allen, the Federal Rosh (Head) of the movement, estimates more than half of participants and leaders are neurodiverse. 

“As more neurodivergent chanichim (students) have come, their parents felt safe, and more people came,” she said. 

Responding to this surge of children, Hineni has invested heavily in training its madrichim (youth leaders) who attend annual sessions with professionals to learn how to adapt communication, adjust sensory environments, and design activities that minimise overwhelming noise or physical contact when needed.