2024 Annual Summary

January 2024 – December 2024

On behalf of the Jewish Deaf Resource Center’s Board of Directors, we are proud to share highlights from a year of meaningful growth, collaboration, and deepened commitment to communication access and inclusivity.

At JDRC, our mission is to close the communication access gap between Jewish Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and the wider Jewish community. We serve as a bridge – ensuring that every person, regardless of hearing status, can fully participate in Jewish communal, spiritual and educational life as one community.

As a bridge-builder, JDRC fosters a vibrant, connected Jewish community where Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals have an equal voice in shaping communication access – where access is not a privilege, but a shared value.

In 2024, we advanced this mission by advising on communication access, facilitating dialogue, distributing resources, and advocating for inclusive practices across five interconnected areas:

• Advocating for Access – championing for the right to belong and be included

• Communication Access & Inclusivity – offering expert guidance to enable full participation in Jewish life and learning

• Education & Resources – sharing tools and knowledge while offering scholarships to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in interpreted and captioned Jewish related courses

• Outreach – connecting the Jewish Deaf and Hard of Hearing community with inclusive programs, hosted by synagogues, JCCs, and partner organizations
  
  

2024 ACHIEVEMENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

Our 2024 milestones reflect JDRC’s deep commitment to growth, advocacy, and shared impact:

-Organizational Growth

• Welcomed our first paid, part-time Office Coordinator – enhancing efficiency and strengthening our capacity to serve.

• Strengthened governance by welcoming two new board members who bring valuable experience, connections, and perspectives. 

-Responsive Inquiry Handling

• Effectively responded to a growing number of inquiries from individuals, families, and Jewish organizations – handling approximately 325 information requests, marking a 8.33% increase from the previous year.

-Enhanced Communication Access

• Advised more than 55 synagogues and Jewish institutions on improving accessibility.

• Expanded our national registry of ASL interpreters and captioners.

-Digital Outreach Platforms

• Secured a contract with a web developer to redesign our website to be more robust, user friendly and interactive, and ADA compliant – strengthening our brand identity, expanding our outreach, and increasing access to resources. The new website is expected to launch in 2025.

• Modified our logo to better reflect our mission and improve brand identity across platforms.

• Significantly increased our digital footprint through consistent email campaigns and increased engagement across social media platforms.

-Dynamic Educational Partnerships

• Partnered with Melton School for Adult Jewish Learning and the Union for Reform Judaism to offer fully accessible Jewish learning experiences.

• Collaborated with a national Jewish organization to launch “Introductory American Sign Language Through Jewish Lens” course.

• Awarded scholarships to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in attending inclusive courses.

Our impact is a direct result of collaboration – with individuals, organizations, and institutions that share our belief that communication access is fundamental to Jewish belonging. Together, we are building a future where all Jewish individuals, regardless of hearing ability, can participate fully, be seen, and feel at home in Jewish life.

WITH HEARTFELT THANKS

We extend our deepest appreciation to all our donors and to the UJA Federation of New York, whose generous support has been instrumental in driving our initiatives forward. Your contributions are the cornerstone of JDRC’s success and growth, allowing us to expand communication access, build partnerships, and create a more inclusive Jewish community.

If you would like to support our mission, we welcome your donation with gratitude.

Together, we are building bridges that change lives.

Warmly,

Susan F. Cohen
President
Jewish Deaf Resource Center

Naomi Brunnlehrman
Co-founder
Jewish Deaf Resource Center

*The term Deaf and Hard of Hearing is inclusive of individuals who are DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or DeafPlus.