The Special Education Department of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland has provided services for over seventeen years. Children from early childhood through age twenty-one receive services, which are delivered through the JECC’s affiliated preschools, supplementary schools and day schools. The Special Education Department is also a clearinghouse for institutions, professionals, and parents in the Cleveland community, offering a number of services to help integrate students with special need into the Jewish educational system. Two communal programs are available to meet the needs of special needs students. The Etgar program provides supplemental religious education to students who are not able to learn in the regular congregational setting. SEGULA is an inclusion program that provides the critical support services in the classroom that enable special needs student the chance to benefit from the day school milieu.

A Special Needs Day School Advisory committee is convened monthly by the JECC. The committee is comprised of the head of the Special Education Department at each day school and the JECC Special Education Department staff. Issues and concerns regarding education for students with special needs are addressed and individuals with specific expertise are invited to make presentations on identified topics.