New York City – A Community Awakening To Autism

New York City – “My ignorance shames me,” commented a rebbetzin from Long Island.

“I have found renewed strength,” said Jonathan, a parent of an autistic child from Queens.

OHEL Bais Ezra’s Queens seminar, entitled “A Community Awakening to Autism,” was billed as an event that would fuel awareness, understanding, and inspiration—and it certainly did.

The seminar, which took place on May 18 at Lander College in Kew Gardens Hills, drew hundreds of participants from across the tri-state area and beyond. The diversity of attendees—parents of autistic children, extended family members, friends, and community and rabbinic leaders—highlighted the reality that autism is a developmental disability that impacts so many people.

The seminar was made possible through a generous grant from the offices of Councilman David Weprin, who spoke passionately at the event about education and the growing need for services to address autism—the fastest-growing developmental disability, yet one of the most misunderstood.

The seminar began with an emotionally moving and inspirational film produced by OHEL Bais Ezra, which focused on the personal trials and triumphs of three exceptional Jewish families with autistic children. Not a dry eye could be found.

After the showing, Mrs. Chana Tomsky, a parent of autistic children and one of the subjects of the film, shared her personal story and spoke of the need for community awareness and action, inspiring the audience with her words of self-sacrifice, dedication, and the joys of her family.

Keynote speaker Susan Senator, herself a parent of an autistic child, led an informative and interactive exchange, drawing on her book, Making Peace with Autism, sharing her experiences, and providing practical steps—help in getting through the early days, developing key coping strategies, helping to keep a marriage strong, and how to have fun as a family with autism.

Rabbi Marc Penner, a well-known community rabbi, spoke from the insightful perspective of a rav and a parent of an autistic child. Rabbi Penner focused on the importance of educating the community, instilling greater sensitivity, and the responsibility of pulpit rabbis to drive community and individual engagement in actively helping many families in need, whether through respite, fostering friendships with children, babysitting, or helping with other needs and offering true chesed.

OHEL Bais Ezra intends to build upon the success of this seminar and expand to a national campaign of awareness. The film shown, A Community Awakening to Autism, can be viewed online at ohelfamily.org/autism.