About Us

Access Inc is a not-for-profit organization working to help integrate Jewish people with disabilities into the fabric of the Melbourne Jewish community.

The organization was formed in 1989 by a number of concerned parents of disabled children and adults who wanted to create a more satisfying and integrated life for their children in the community.

Access Inc has a strong vision of including people with disabilities into communal life for the enrichment of everyone. It works to promote community awareness and knowledge about disability and fulfils an important advocacy role. It also provides an invaluable resource and support network for people with disabilities.

Access fundraising is a small group of people who raise money in order to help these visions become a reality. All funds raised help to enrich the live sof people with a disability such as:

  • Weekly drumming program, which involves 20 – 30 people. Ages range from 10 – 60.
  •  Annual 3 day horse riding camp for children and adults where adults and kids can enjoy the pleasure of riding horses, experiencing farm life and its other animals independently from their families. This camp also gave the parents well deserved time out.
  • Other activities such as a picnic in the park with entertainment and food and disco at St.Kilda Shule.
  • Life Skills Employment program.

 

 

About Our Volunteers

 

Deena Goldbloom  - President

 

In the 17 years of my involvement with Access, I have witnessed marked community changes towards disability and the flip side- inclusion of people with special needs into all walks of community life- schools, shuls, community organisations, employment, recreational inclusive programmes and the list goes on.

 

We also have benefited from the involvement of some wonderful volunteers in the range of programmes that we run or  are involved with -to name but a few, our drumming group, the Access shop programme and theatrical performances, our basket ball group under the “All Abilities “ banner.

 

Besides running these innovative programmes, we still feel that it is important that Access keeps up its important advocacy role in the community  to ensure that the opportunities and rights of these  special individuals are maintained and optimised

 

Janette Dvash – Vice President

 

Alysa is 22 years old.  As any parent, I have always wanted Alysa to fulfil her potential and be a happy individual.  I have constantly worked to achieve these goals, and being part of Access gives me the opportunity to do this within our well networked and supportive Jewish Community.  Along this journey, I have experienced various therapies, services and educational settings and combined with the social and recreational programs that Access have developed, I believe I have found the best options available in most cases. 

The demands on families of people with special needs will always be extensive, but Access is a forum where I can meet with others to discuss the distinctive needs we all experience. 

 

 

Jeremy Goldman - Treasurer

 

I am a student at Monash university studding Commerce/ Law. I commenced my involved Access as a voluntary participant with Drumming group in early 2009. Recently I have taken a greater interest in the leadership and in running activities such as helping out with  other events like the Yom ha'atzmaut concert.


In the past I have had been involved with people with disability through the Bnei Akivak Yuval program, with Lord Somers Camp Diversity and in Israel at the disability centre In Lod.

 


       Michelle Feigin

 


I am a mother of 6, my  youngest child is 15  and has Down syndrome. He attends Yeshivah College full time and is in Year 7.  Zalman has been attending Access programs for many years and loves the weekly drumming group, basketball,  has been to horse riding camp , and participated in the 2008 Access musical “Rags to Riches”.

 

I have been involved in Access for around ten years and have been a committee member for two  years . I saw the need to involve younger families as the children of the founders of Access are now all young adults. With another parent I formed a young Access group 2 1/2 years  ago. We  have been actively reaching out to families with preschool and school age children to offer friendship and support as well as recreational activities.

 

Zoe London

 

I have been involved with the Access committee for 12 months.  I have two young children with a disability and am interested in supporting activities that promote inclusion and belonging for people with disabilities in the Jewish Community. My children attend a specialist school, so Access provides an important opportunity for them to develop a connection to the Jewish Community.