Walk With Israel 2007 accessible to all members of the GTA

By Raquel Kaplan Goldberg --
In its effort to bring out as many people as possible for the Walk With Israel 2007 on May 27, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto is taking steps to ensure that the day’s events are welcoming to all members of the community.

Those for whom the 7.7-kilometer route is too long will be able to take a shuttle bus from the first rest stop – only 1.7 kilometers from the start – to the Automotive Building, where the RioCan Carnival will follow the Walk. Dignity Transportation executive vice president Jeff Passoff is providing the wheelchair-accessible buses free of charge because, he says, “by having these vehicles out there, maybe more people will see and understand the options available to all members of our community.”

Chaya Fischman will be interpreting into sign language for members of the deaf community during the Walk Start at 9:30 at Coronation Park, just across from the CNE’s Prince’s Gates. In addition, UJA Federation is working to accommodate other community groups with special needs that have expressed interest in participating in this year’s Walk.

The force behind these initiatives is UJA Federation’s Inclusion Committee. Formed in 2002 under the banner “We all belong,” the committee promotes the participation of all Jews in mainstream communal life, including those with disabilities and their families.

Fay Rotman, UJA Federation’s director of inclusion, explains the importance of making the Walk accessible to people with different needs. “It’s a highly visible event and, therefore, a perfect opportunity for UJA Federation to demonstrate our belief in total inclusion. Our goal is to ultimately see every community public event be totally inclusive of our entire community and as the central body in the Jewish community, we need to be at the forefront of the effort,” she says. “It’s not just that we physically accommodate people with different needs, but that we make them feel welcome.”

The Walk With Israel is also an event for people of all ages. DJ companies Mint Lifestyle Events, Sole Power Productions Inc., Magen Boys Entertainment, Starr Productions and Corey Mandell – all popular with the bar and bat mitzvah crowd - recently visited Jewish day schools and got the younger generation excited about the Walk with high-energy presentations.

For more information about the shuttle bus and route, visit www.walkwithisrael.com, where you can also register for the Walk and sponsor participants.