BEINEINU NEWS & NOTES

March 21, 2023

DOE Will Travel-Train Students With IEPs

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) has initiated a program to help students with an IEP walk and/or those who use mass transit between home and school independently and safely. At this time, students can be enrolled in any school except a charter school to apply for this program. They do not have to attend a District 75 program to qualify. The waiting list is around 400 people, so far. Training is individualized based on assessment of the student and their route to school. There are job openings for travel-training paraprofessionals and teachers to do this work – at the same pay rates and city benefits as other NYCDOE employees. Webinars for parents to parents on how to support young people’s travel skills are planned. For information, contact 212 673-1242 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Lego

Lego is offering up a host of new characters with disabilities. The characters include those with Down syndrome, limb differences, anxiety, vitiligo and a dog with a wheelchair. The new characters are part of Lego Friends sets that are available now and they are included in a Lego Friends TV series on the Lego YouTube channel. See www.lego.com/en-us/themes/friends for a full selection.

Jewish Publications For The Visually Impaired

Jewish Heritage For the Blind provides free of charge many religious Jewish publications in large print and braille for people who are legally blind. Selections include Siddur, Machzorim, Megillas Esther, Haggadah, Tehillim, Jewish calendar, and more. They also publish children’s books in Braille in English, Hebrew, French, and Spanish. A note from a certified eye care specialist is required. Contact 800-995-1888 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..   

Haggadahs For The Visually Impaired

JBI offers Large Print, Braille, and Audio Haggadahs, free of charge, for anyone who is visually impaired, blind or print disabled. They offer editions for different denominations and in different languages such as Russian, Spanish, and French. The following new editions now available in accessible formats: Mishkan HaSeder from the CCAR Press, PJ Library’s Family Haggadah, and the Chabad Haggadah.

To learn more or to request a free Large Print, Braille or Audio Haggadah, call JBI at 800-999-6476 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by March 24, 2023 to receive your free Haggadah in time for the Seder. Downloads available.