Inclusion

Accessibility Information

Livestream and Zoom

Many of our prayer services and other community programs are livestreamed to YouTube and Facebook. Our livestreams and recordings can be found HERE. Some programs, such as weekday and Sunday morning minyan, can be accessed via Zoom. You can find minyan Zoom info HERE.

Parking

Our main parking lot and the Goldberger Youth Center (GYC) parking lot across the street have designated disabled parking spaces. During the High Holidays, we designate many more parking spaces in our main parking lot for people with disabilities. During Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, people with disabilities can be dropped off at the upper circle driveway (West side of the building). At all other times, all attendees are to use the entrance from the lower parking lot (North side of the building) only.

Wheelchair accessibility

• Each exterior door is accessible via a ramp.
• Both our main facility and the GYC across the street have elevators. The elevators are set to run automatically during Shabbat and holidays.
• Our sanctuary has aisles wide enough for a wheelchair or walker. Walkers can be stored in the outer aisles on the back wall or side walls or in the sanctuary. Please ask a greeter for help storing your walker. When we hold programs in spaces beside the sanctuary, we strive to create aisles wide enough for wheelchairs and walkers.
• In our sanctuary, the lower bima (stage) is accessible via a ramp. The upper bima is not wheelchair accessible.
• We have the capability of moving the Torah reading table onto the floor of the sanctuary upon request.
• We also have the capability of moving a portable ark onto the floor in the sanctuary upon request.
• Services that take place in other HEA rooms (e.g., the social hall, the chapel, or the GYC) are fully wheelchair accessible as those spaces do not have a raised bima.
• Some of our High Holidays services take place at Bethany Lutheran Church (4500 E. Hampden). The stage at Bethany is accessible via a ramp.

Doors

Neither our main building nor the GYC have automatic or assisted doors, so people with disabilities may need assistance entering the building. Members of the greeter/security team will be present at the doors during all major services and programs to assist people in entering.

Accessibility Cart

In the foyer outside of the sanctuary, you will find our accessibility cart. This cart contains audio assistance headsets, transliterated and large-print prayer books, prayer books with Russian and Spanish translations, ear plugs, magnifying sheets with lights, reading glasses, and an iPad. The iPad can be used by people with hearing impairment to watch the livestream of our services with closed captioning. Near the accessibility cart, we keep portable music stands to assist with holding up prayer books during services. Please don’t hesitate to ask a greeter for assistance with accessibility cart items.

Restrooms

Besides the multi-stall, gender-segregated restrooms in our main facility, we have two single-user, all-gender restrooms – one in the office hallway and one attached to the library. The GYC has several single-user, all-gender restrooms on each floor.

American Sign Language Interpretation

We have the capability of providing American Sign Language interpretation, either in person or over Zoom, upon request.

Allergies

We cannot guarantee the absence of any particular allergen in the food that is served at the HEA. Please use caution when avoiding food allergens at the HEA.

Dietary Restrictions

We have some ability to accommodate dietary restrictions such as gluten sensitivity and lactose intolerance. Please contact our office to communicate your needs and discuss possible food options at any program.

Wiggle Room

The “Wiggle Room,” formerly known as the “Cry Room,” is a sound-isolated space where folks can hear and see services in the sanctuary without transferring sound back into the sanctuary. This is a good place to hang out if you or your loved ones want to make a lot of noise during services. During loud community programs in the social hall, such as our Hanukkah concert, the wiggle room is designated as a quiet space where people can go to reduce sensory overwhelm.

Early Entry to Programs

Early entry to programs (e.g., concerts or our Community Passover Seder) is available to people with disabilities upon request.

Religious School and Preschool Education Accommodations

To discuss your child’s learning needs at HEArt Religious School, please contact Education Director Amanda Eckert at . To discuss your child’s learning needs at the HEA preschool, please contact Preschool Director Rebecca Paradis at .