Temple Chai caters to students with special needs

Michele Perlman is the special needs coordinator at Temple Chai, a Reform Jewish congregation in Long Grove.

Perlman has taught special needs programs in public schools since 1983, and is currently an Autism specialist and on a crisis team at a Waukegan elementary school. She has coordinated and taught the special needs programs for Temple Chai's religious and Hebrew schools for more than 20 years.

"Special needs curriculum at Temple Chai is continually designed and, if necessary, redesigned to fit the ongoing and changing needs of each individual student," said Perlman.

"We want all special needs learners to be included and to participate in the temple's religious and Hebrew schools to the best of their individual abilities.

"The special needs program also celebrates Temple Chai's goal to be an inclusive community where diversity is welcomed," Perlman said. "Without this program, many young people could not partake in the temple's spiritual and educational opportunities."

Perlman recalls helping a student with special needs prepare for his bar mitzvah. When he had completed the ceremony in front of the congregation, he looked first at Senior Rabbi Stephen Hart and then out at the congregants and asked, "I did good?" The congregation applauded, demonstrating its affirmative response.

Temple Chai offers a variety of special needs classes and activities: Sunday through Wednesday, pre-Kindergarten through 12th grades are serviced with religious, cultural, social activities and conversational Hebrew classes.

Perlman said that many students with special needs can, with available assistance, participate with other students in religious school and in cultural and social activities. In Hebrew school, the emphasis is on individual or small group tutoring.

Perlman works with individuals and with small groups. She also conducts the ongoing training of teens in the temple's Madrichim program (teen guides) so that they may help children who have difficulty retaining focus in religious or Hebrew school. She has crafted portions of B'nei Mitzvah ceremonies to help pupils with special needs fully enjoy their experience.

Perlman, the child's parents and the director of Congregational Learning, Laura Perpinyal, jointly determine how the child will be helped by the temple's special needs program. They discuss the child's best learning style and make decisions.

The temple's religious and Hebrew schoolteachers alert Perlman if a child may require special assistance. She then works with the individual's parents to arrive at a solution beneficial for the student. Perlman also consults with families to ensure that they know how to offer continued support.

Perlman helps parents get past any feeling that a stigma is attached to their children because they require special help to partake in the temple's religious or Hebrew schools or to become a B'nei Mitzvah.

"When I've worked with parents, and their children have achieved, we've done the right thing," said Perlman. "The students can be proud of themselves and know they can share in the life of the temple community."

Michele grew up in Michigan and Texas. She earned a bachelor of science degree in special education at the University of Texas, with minors in social work and psychology. She earned a master's certificate in Jewish Special Education from the Board of Jewish Education in Chicago.

In her spare time, she volunteers for many charitable groups, including those that honor veterans and groups servicing children in high risk urban poverty areas.

She joined other Temple Chai members who journeyed to Southern Illinois to help rebuild homes damaged by tornadoes.

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