By: Nomi Kaltmann as seen in The Jewish Independent
13 April 2026
If you are raising a neurodivergent child in Melbourne Jewish community, where are the spaces that will genuinely welcome them?
It’s a discussion that has come into sharp focus following a recent article in The Jewish Independent, where an anonymous parent described the painful experience trying to secure inclusion for their neurodiverse children in Jewish schools.
There are youth movements and Hebrew schools that consciously welcome children with special needs, including neurodiversity.
Here are three options.
‘We work really hard to make it happen’
Hineni Youth and Welfare, a Zionist youth movement affiliated with the Australian Zionist Youth Council, welcomes neurodiverse children and works closely with parents to ensure their children can participate fully in weekly programs and sleepaway camps.
Liav Allen, the Federal Rosh (Head) of the movement, estimates more than half of participants and leaders are neurodiverse.
“As more neurodivergent chanichim (students) have come, their parents felt safe, and more people came,” she said.
Responding to this surge of children, Hineni has invested heavily in training its madrichim (youth leaders) who attend annual sessions with professionals to learn how to adapt communication, adjust sensory environments, and design activities that minimise overwhelming noise or physical contact when needed.
Allen emphasises that trust between families and organisers is central.
“I completely [understand] if parents are worried about sending their kids to a new space, but at Hineni, there is genuine intent to work with every child. I think it’s beautiful that neurodivergent chanichim can come and be safe and we work really hard to make that happen,” she said.
‘Not scared of anything’
Rebbetzin Menucha Cooper of Chabad of Malvern is happy to welcome and accommodate any neurodiverse child into her afterschool Hebrew school program.
Chabad Malvern’s Hebrew School, which runs once a week for 1.5 hours, allows neurodiverse children to participate alongside neurotypical peers while also receiving one-on-one support, if needed.
“They come and they do activities with neurotypical kids, and for the children that need it, we have more specialised support. We are happy to cater for every child, I’m not scared of anything,” Cooper said.
Cooper, a mum of five, has a 12-year-old son, Mendy, who has Angelman syndrome. With tens of thousands of followers on her Magical Mendy Facebook and Instagram accounts she shares daily glimpses of her family life with Mendy, aiming to normalise disability inclusion and to challenge commonly held stigmas. It’s why she feels so strongly that no Jewish child should miss out on learning about their heritage.
“Having Mendy has completely given me a new set of glasses,” she said. “Mendy is a gift to us… when you start being inclusive of one person it has a ripple effect.”
‘Their souls have a purpose’
Rebbetzin Dina Liberow, the founder of the Lamdeni Hebrew School, is another educator with a strong commitment to inclusion born of personal experience.
A mother of nine, including two children with special needs, she has prioritised inclusion since establishing her program in 1998.
“It’s extraordinary how much my two children with special needs have been my teachers,” she said.
Liberow’s inclusion philosophy is strongly shaped by the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who spoke extensively about the spiritual dignity and potential of children with disabilities.
“The Rebbe called these children special, not as a euphemism, but as a real and true description. He said that despite the fact they may be limited in some areas, they are extremely talented in others. Their souls have a purpose,” she said.
“The Rebbe said these kids are deserving of a Jewish education just like their siblings, and that’s how they are going to feel a sense of belonging and a real sense of Jewish identity,” she said.
Rachel, a mother of a child with autism and ADHD has experienced firsthand what it means to go to a Jewish program that can cater for her neurodiverse child.
“My child goes to a public school after being forced to leave a Jewish school. At my child’s public school, they are the only Jew in their class. Judaism is very important to my husband and I, but we knew that other Jewish programs wouldn’t be willing to accommodate my child.
“One day I bumped into Rebbetzin Dina. I didn’t even really know much about Lamdeni but I told her about our situation, and she told me, no child should be left behind, and to bring my child. She even provided my child a support worker, she cared a lot,” said Rachel.
“My child fully participates in Jewish life. Since starting at Lamdeni, my child can understand what’s happening at the Shabbat table and even learned how to read Hebrew. Before Lamdeni, I couldn’t imagine how my child would learn those things. It felt impossible, but it was Dina’s attitude. She cared enough and she really wanted to make it work and she did.”