FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maury Litwack
202-513-6484

UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS OF AMERICA APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NORTH AMERICAN INCLUSION MONTH

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – applauded the introduction in the U.S. House of Representatives of H.RES. 1014, a resolution recognizing February as North American Inclusion Month (NAIM). North American Inclusion Month aims to increase public awareness of the life circumstances of individuals with disabilities, and the need for increased employment opportunities, better special education and increased inclusion of these individuals on the family, communal and national levels. NAIM is a project of Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, part of the Orthodox Union’s programmatic division serving the Jewish community. Yachad is committed to addressing the needs of all individuals with disabilities and including them in the Jewish community.

H.RES.1014 was introduced last night in the House by Representative Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn), Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, who said upon introduction:

North American Inclusion Month will focus public attention on the need to ensure that the millions of Americans with disabilities have equal opportunities in our country. While there remains a great deal of work ahead of us, this resolution represents an important step toward raising public awareness of this critical issue. I applaud the work of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America for their ongoing dedication to help improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Maury Litwack, deputy director of public policy for the Union, stated:

We applaud Representative Towns for introducing this resolution. With one in five Americans living with some form of disability, and a similar ratio in the Jewish community, it is our communal and national responsibility to ensure that these individuals are included and that their needs are met. Jewish law teaches compassion for all, and with NAIM, we are exponentially increasing the amount of Jews with disabilities whose lives will be dramatically improved through their inclusion; and whose communities will be immeasurably enriched.

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