My Nonprofit Reviews
GenXYiddisheMamme
Review for MATAN, Inc., White Plains, NY, USA
I have called on MATAN's expertise in special education/special needs in the Jewish educational setting for almost a decade. My congregational school (I was Director of Education at Park Avenue Synagogue in NYC a the time) was one of the first to set up a special needs program with MATAN's expert guidance and assistance. They not only took the lead in designing our program, but also supplied curriculum and instructors. MATAN worked with us to create a separate class for special needs kids, and in devising systems to accommodate learning differences within our mainstream classes. In more recent years, I have called on MATAN for advice on special needs issues on a larger scale (community-wide initiatives, grant writing for such projects, etc.) while working for central agencies for Jewish education. No matter in what way I have worked with MATAN, the organization has always been highly responsive and professional. MATAN was ahead of the curve in terms of special needs and inclusion in Jewish education, and I am pleased to know that it continues to do the great work it was only beginning to do when I partnered with them in their pioneer efforts.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the congregational school setting.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Grow it and make sure that it was able to do the development it needed to support this growth.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the professionalism of its staff, its vision, and its tenacity in reaching its goals.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Highly knowledgeable, professional and caring.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Do HUGE things toward the inclusion of all Jewish, regardless of any disabilities they may have, in Jewish educational programs and schools.
Ways to make it better...
MATAN had had even more resources earlier on.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Fundraising/development and recruitment of enough qualified special educators for Jewish education.
One thing I'd also say is that...
I wish that MATAN were bigger and that there were more organizations like MATAN.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2008
