Jewish Disabilities Network Blog – Meet Our Community Disability Navigator

By Alyson Winderbaum
Community Disability Navigator, Jewish Disabilities Network (JDN)
Published January 22, 2024

Hello! Welcome to the Jewish Disabilities Network (JDN) Blog. My name is Alyson Winderbaum, and I am the Community Disability Navigator for Jewish Palm Beach.

My mission is to make our community a place of inclusion and belonging for those with disabilities.

My passion for inclusion has been a guiding force throughout my life. I come from a traditional Jewish household in sunny South Florida, where I grew up alongside my parents and older sister. From an early age, I have always wanted to help people and sought opportunities to serve the Jewish community. While in Israel, I had the privilege of working with children with a wide range of disabilities, interning at a memory care facility for individuals with Alzheimer’s, and volunteering with children and teenagers from challenging family backgrounds.

These transformative experiences led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Following that, I decided to continue my education at FAU and pursue a master’s degree in social work. I hold this field in high regard for its unwavering commitment to embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all individuals.

During this time, I also took on the role of Community Disability Navigator at Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. My responsibilities are multifaceted and encompass the following:

1. Navigation: I am here to guide and support those with disabilities and their families in accessing services, programs, and resources to meet everyone’s unique needs.

2. Education: I will actively engage our community in learning how to become more inclusive and accepting and nurturing a sense of belonging for all.

3. Advocacy: I am committed to advocating on your behalf to ensure that community services and resources are tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals and families.

I look forward to sharing more thoughts on current, relevant topics related to disability inclusion. Stay tuned for more updates!

Please contact me with any questions, concerns or ideas. Thank you for allowing me to share this journey with you.

About Jewish Disabilities Network (JDN)

JDN is committed to promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in our local Jewish community, inspiring innovative accessible resources and programming, and embracing diversity. Click here to learn more.