It’s Off to Work We Go: Attitude Toward Disability at Vocational Training Programs at Jewish Summer Camps
Source: Journal of Jewish Education, 83:1, 27-48
Baglieri and Shapiro (2012) argue that considering attitudes toward disability is an important step toward building a more inclusive society. This study examines attitudes toward disability of staff members of vocational and independent living skills programs for young adults with disabilities in four Jewish summer camps. It also provides an overview of the scholarly literature on Jewish education for people with disabilities and a brief history of vocational training at Jewish summer camps.
McDermott and Varenne’s (1995) three approaches for understanding disability were used to examine staff attitudes. Concrete instantiations of all three approaches were found during site visits and interviews at the camps. Implications for the continued development of inclusive educational opportunities in the Jewish community are discussed.