September 27, 2005

Batya Jacob, Program Director of OU’s Our Way for the Jewish Deaf, Available for Community Consultation

The Orthodox Union announced today that Batya Jacob, Program Director of Our Way for the Jewish Deaf, and Associate Director of the New Jersey Association of Jewish Day Schools, an Orthodox Union affiliate, is now available to consult with schools and parents in order to help integrate students with auditory difficulties into mainstream classes. This program will be offered to students in yeshiva/day schools in the Metropolitan New York, Tri-State area, as well as in the public schools.

Our Way is a division of the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, an agency of the Orthodox Union. Our Way provides educational and social inclusion programs for the deaf and hard of hearing. Family services, including holiday celebrations, retreats, workshops, information and referral services, job placement, and the Jewish Deaf Singles Registry, are just some of the unique and vital services offered to individuals, children, and families.

Mrs. Jacob is a licensed audiologist in New York and New Jersey, as well a certified Jewish studies teacher. She has also recently published a book, The Hearing Impaired Child in the Jewish Classroom, and her background will benefit those with hearing difficulties ranging from auditory processing to profound hearing loss.

“By working with teachers and parents, and exploring a wide range of accommodations -- including suggested seating arrangements for students, improving the acoustics in the classroom, and using adaptive procedures designed to boost hearing potential -- these students will now be able to be better incorporated into the classroom experience,” said Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, National Director of NJCD.

According to Mrs. Jacob, “By not addressing the educational needs of students with auditory issues, schools and teachers will not only be doing a disservice to these particular students, but will hamper their ability to reach their goals with other students as well. If students are unable to pay attention in class because they cannot hear or understand what the teacher is saying, they will, through no fault of their own, become restless, distracted, and possibly disruptive. In addition, when teachers understand how students process language auditorially, they are more likely to teach to the strengths of all their students and enhance the educational experience in the classroom.”

Mrs. Jacob’s background is uniquely qualified to understand the issues facing parents, teachers, administrators, and most importantly students, as they navigate through the Jewish educational experience. For more information on the program or on fees, please contact Mrs. Jacob at arielib@ou.org or by phone at 212-613-8127.

www.ourway.org

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The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 409,000 products manufactured in 83 countries around the globe.

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