Accessible High Holidays

"Accessible High Holidays" by Rachel Adlerstone offers a comprehensive guide to fostering inclusive High Holiday experiences within Jewish communities. This planning resource approaches accessibility not as an afterthought, but as integral to religious belonging, recognizing disabled individuals as active participants, leaders, and decision-makers. It delves into various dimensions of access, including physical, sensory, cognitive, communication, chronic illness, and mental health considerations, emphasizing that a single accommodation does not suit everyone's needs.

The book provides practical guidance on a range of topics, such as selecting appropriate seating, ensuring bimah accessibility, utilizing microphones, providing captioning and sign-language interpretation, and offering prayer books in large print, Braille, or digital formats. It also addresses concerns like fragrance sensitivity, lighting, quiet spaces, service pacing, bathroom access, transportation, and livestream options. Discussions around fasting and medication are handled with respect for privacy and adherence to medical and religious guidelines. The text includes tools for budgeting and distinguishing immediate changes from larger projects, alongside scripts to help staff ask helpful questions without requiring diagnoses. Contributions from disabled individuals highlight common challenges and effective solutions, while a post-holiday audit framework helps evaluate genuine participation and dignity, moving beyond mere checklist compliance.