Photo: Whitney Emmons and Natalie Aman

Jewish Family Service continues to expand its Disability and Inclusion Program, deepening its collaborations across Shalom Austin and extending its reach into the greater Austin community. In June 2024, JFS welcomed its first full-time Disability and Inclusion Manager, Whitney Emmons, with a dedicated focus on expanding and enhancing disability inclusion initiatives and programming throughout Shalom Austin. Just seven months later, the team grew again with the hiring of Natalie Aman as Disability and Inclusion Youth Manager, further strengthening JFS’s commitment to inclusive programming for children and teens. In under a year, their combined efforts have led to the launch of a multi-tiered Supported Employment Program, new program development, expanded JCamps inclusion initiatives, staff training for over 100 employees, and disability services provided to more than 60 families in the community. 

Expanding Inclusion: A Vision for 2025 and Beyond 

As JFS looks ahead, the Disability and Inclusion Program is poised for even greater impact. I Am Able, an empowerment group, was relaunched in January of this year, providing a safe space for adults who identify as neurodivergent to come together in person. Two new group series will launch later this year to support families of individuals with disabilities, providing opportunities for connection with other families and caregivers who “get it.” The Shalom Austin Disability and Inclusion Task Force has been reconceptualized and welcomed several new members, and new cross-departmental collaborations within Shalom Austin will provide increased access to resources, training, and community education. Among these ambitious initiatives, the most exciting addition to JFS’s inclusion programming is RAISE—Recognizing Abilities and Inclusion of Special Employees. 

RAISE: Transforming Employment Access for Neurodivergent Adults 

A licensed employment readiness program, RAISE was pioneered by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (now part of Shalom Orlando) in 2012 and has since become a proven model for supporting neurodivergent adults and individuals with invisible disabilities in their pursuit of meaningful employment. The program blends real-world jobsite experience with weekly curriculum-based learning, all while being supported by dedicated volunteer job coaches and local businesses. Although statistics show that neurodivergent employees are often among the most loyal and most hard-working, this community is often overlooked in hiring processes. RAISE aims to bridge the gap between willing and capable employees and workplaces that would benefit from their talents. 

RAISE is more than just a temporary job placement program—it’s a structured opportunity for participants to develop crucial soft skills, such as navigating workplace communication, understanding professional norms, and working effectively in group settings. Through paid job placements, skill-building classes, and volunteer mentorship, participants graduate from RAISE with professional experience, references, and the confidence to succeed in future competitive employment opportunities. The inaugural cohort, set to launch in fall 2025, will start small but is expected to double in size by 2026. 

The Role of Community Partnerships 

“What we need right now,” says Emmons, “is buy-in from our community. The support from Shalom Austin’s leadership and staff has been tremendous, but the success of RAISE depends on the participation of dedicated volunteer job coaches and local businesses. They are the glue that holds it all together. Committing just three hours a week as a job coach or providing a jobsite placement at no cost to your business can make a profound impact—not just on our participants, but on the community as a whole. We’ve seen how powerful this program has been in Orlando, and I have no doubt we can create something just as transformative here in Austin.”  

Each RAISE participant will be matched with two volunteer job coaches and two partnering jobsites – one job coach for each jobsite – so the need for community involvement is significant. Online applications for both participants and volunteer job coaches are scheduled to open on May 1, 2025, so the summer months can be spent interviewing and matching participants with the most compatible coaches and jobsites. The program loosely follows the school year, with a formal kickoff Meet & Greet event in October and graduation in June.  

A Holistic Approach to Inclusive Employment 

RAISE is one of three components within JFS’s Supported Employment Program. The other two—Supported Internships and the Workplace Experience Program—address different stages of the employment life cycle. “This program is about meeting people where they are,” explains Emmons. “Whether someone is preparing for life after public school, stepping into their first job, or working to maintain long-term employment, we want to provide the right level of support, structure, and opportunity.”  

The Workplace Experience Program, for instance, serves as an early introduction to workforce dynamics and professionalism. This tier of the program is designed for adult students in public school transition programs, offering hands-on jobsite learning opportunities to put educational curriculum about job skills into practice in a safe, supportive environment. Partnering with schools like Greenleaf Neurodiversity Community Center (GNCC), JFS provides students with practical work experience while students engage with Shalom Austin staff and Dell JCC members.  

In the 2024-2025 school year cohort, 6 students and 3 staff from GNCC have worked weekly on campus as part of the Workplace Experience program, providing supports directly and indirectly across multiple departments including Membership, Athletics, Aquatics, Jewish Family Service, and even the Zeifman Family Early Childhood Program. Under the dedicated guidance of Delaney Shiono, an AmeriCorps member working with the JFS Disability and Inclusion team since September, these students have developed confidence, discovered new interests, and built foundational employment skills. 

Meanwhile, Supported Internships function similarly to traditional part-time seasonal employment but with additional flexibility and support, ensuring that participants are set up for long-term success rather than penalized for challenges that arise during their placements. These opportunities cater to individuals who are ready for structured, paid opportunities but still require additional flexibility and accommodation. This model not only benefits the interns but also enriches the workplace culture, fostering an environment of inclusivity and learning for all employees involved. 

What truly distinguishes JFS’s approach is its commitment to adaptability. “We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all model,” says Emmons. “If an internship placement isn’t working, we don’t terminate that intern’s employment. We work with the intern to analyze what’s happening, reassess the intern’s strengths, and find a better fit. Our goal is setting each employee up for success.” 

Camp Really Is for Everyone 

The expansion of JCamps Inclusion programming is another source of great pride and excitement among the Disability and Inclusion team. Aman, who has worked for the past few years as a part of the JCamps team, now serves in an inter-departmental capacity, collaborating with that same team to enhance inclusion programming and support for youths and teens year-round.  

For over a decade, Shalom Austin JCamps has enthusiastically welcomed children with a wide range of abilities into its Inclusion Program. In 2025, due in large part to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the dream of expanding inclusion initiatives to welcome more campers and support them year-round through all youth programs has become a reality. “One of the most rewarding parts of this expansion has been building on the work my team and I have developed over the past few years. With increased staff training and more resources, we can now welcome and support more campers than ever before, giving them an enriching summer and school-year experience,” Aman said. The addition of Aman’s role as part of the JFS Disability and Inclusion team allows for consistent and coordinated efforts not just at summer camps, but also during break camps and days-off programs, Kids Connection, afterschool youth programs, and vendor programs that serve youths and teens.
 

Previously, a dedicated inclusion manager was hired for only the summer season, and families and staff worked quickly to identify needs, design individualized support plans, and prepare counselors in just a few short months. With Aman’s new role, camper needs can be identified throughout the school year and support plans can be implemented across a variety of programs, providing a more seamless integration into JCamps.  Additionally, campers can now experience the joy of camp during school year break camps and days-off programs, no longer limiting their access to designated weeks during the summer. “The creation of the Disability and Inclusion Youth Manager role has sparked a meaningful culture shift. Inclusion isn’t a burden; it’s a shared responsibility. When we make small, intentional changes, we create a space where all campers feel valued,” Aman added. “It’s not as overwhelming as some might imagine, and the impact is significant.” 

Already, as she heads into her first summer as a Disability and Inclusion team member, Aman has met with more than 30 families who want to send their children to camp this summer as inclusion campers. Some of those families are already receiving additional support from Aman via Kids Connection, Martial Arts, Kim’s Gym, and Aquatics programs at Shalom Austin, preparing them for a successful and enjoyable transition into their summer at JCamps. 

Investing in the Future 

With these new initiatives and ongoing collaborations, JFS’s Disability and Inclusion Program is poised to make a lasting impact, ensuring that meaningful, sustainable inclusion is at the heart of Shalom Austin’s community values. Whether through employment programs, inclusive camps, or family support services, the message is clear: everyone deserves a place to belong, contribute, and thrive within the Austin Jewish community. 

The journey toward inclusion is not a short one, nor is it the responsibility of any single organization or program. True systemic change requires a collective effort—one that JFS, Shalom Austin, and their community partners are eager to lead. With continued support from leadership, volunteers, donors, and local businesses, the vision of a truly inclusive Austin Jewish community is well within reach.