A concerned group of parents of Jewish children with special needs expressed a desire to participate in day school inclusion. Seed money was granted by the Rose Community Foundation to establish an adapted curriculum at the Denver Academy of Torah, implemented by the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education (CAJE).  After three years, the grant expired, but parents raised private money and the program was able to continue for another year.  A task force study undertaken for CAJE in 2000-01 determined that a significantly expanded program would be required to meet the needs of the student population in Colorado.

The name "Keshet of the Rockies" was adopted in March 2001, reflecting the pioneering work of Keshet, a program serving Jewish students with special needs in the Chicago metropolitan area. This organization served as a model for the Colorado program.  Keshet of the Rockies began serving students in the 2001-02 school year, at Hillel Academy, a K-8 school with excellent results. Bar and bat mitzvah support also produced impressive results through our local synagogue network. In addition,  Keshet staff have worked with the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Services of Colorado and other agencies to meet the needs of school age learners with varying challenges.

To date, we have served over 70 students across our community and we continue to build relationships with local groups to ensure that Jewish children with special needs receive quality instruction in inclusive settings. Our most recent endeavor to ensure that Jewish learning continues l'dor vador ("from generation to generation") involves providing Keshet with sustainable funding through our endowment fund. 

Contact Bradley Friedman at the Jewish Community Foundation to find out how your planned gift can support Keshet's mission by providing a seamless education for Jewish children with special needs through a lifetime: (303) 316-6484 or bfriedman@jcfcolorado.org.

Please join us as we prepare to celebrate our Tenth Anniversary in 2011! For more information on volunteering, contact Dr. Sharon L. Sherman at (720) 941-7288.