In March 1999, Shimon and Frady Steinhaus lost their son Dovi, an adorable 2 ½ year old who had Down Syndrome. In his lifetime, Dovi was met with loving acceptance by his extended family and by his parents’s friends, neighbors, and synagogue community. Despite their overwhelming loss – and filled with gratitude to the Ribono Shel Olam for the happiness which Dovi had brought to their home – the Steinhaus’ founded Dovi’s Playhouse l’iluyi nishmaso. They envisioned an organization for the benefit of children with special needs throughout the greater New York area, a foundation which would help to foster a sense of belonging for all children within religious society.

Shimon and Frady themselves were well-versed in the challenge and importance of creating opportunities for those with exceptional needs. As deaf individuals in a hearing world, and having parented a child with developmental delays, they knew how vital it is that all individuals be integrated socially so that they may reach their fullest potential as religious Jews. They understood that children with special needs must no longer be on the outside looking in, strangers at the gate.

To that end, Dovi’s Playhouse has created “Dovi’s Therapy Room” in a local Yeshiva so that they may build on the concept of a facility specifically devoted to students with special needs. Dovi’s Playhouse has helped individual families fund services allowing their child to be included in school and camp settings.

Several years ago, Dovi’s Playhouse established a tutoring program to match pre-screened tutors who have experience in the field of special education with families whose children would benefit from an extra hour of weekly tutoring outside of school. By covering the cost of a one-on-one tutor, a child in the public school setting has been able to begin learning Aleph-Bais just like his older siblings. A child with learning issues, mainstreamed in a local Bais Yaakov, has been helped to keep up with her classmates as they progressed through learning Kriya and has therefore been able to remain in a regular education setting. Also, a soon to be Bar Mitzvah has worked on his two minute Psheti and learned to put on Tefilin appropriately so that he may take his rightful place as another new Bochur in Klal Yisroel.

The Steinhaus’ have shown us that disabilities can be overcome with love, understanding and hard work. And together we can see to it that every child can find his or her place in our community.