In 1982, a group of Chicago area parents sat around a kitchen table discussing how they might help their children, all with various disabilities, find a welcoming place in the community where they felt they belonged. Those founding families could never have dreamed what Keshet would quickly become. Within a year, they had organized a Sunday School, and as the children got older, they saw there was need to create additional programming around them. By 1988, a short 6 years later, Keshet was opening an entire elementary school, creating educational opportunities and support for many children with disabilities and special needs.
The spirit behind this growth is still seen today as Keshet scales in capacity and depth right alongside our participants and their families.
Children and adults with disabilities deserve and have every right to be part of the wider community in ways that they choose to be involved. Keshet provides the support for people to access opportunities to live full and meaningful lives in their home communities.
At Keshet, inclusion is a mindset, not a program, that shapes values, culture and decisions. Inclusion is about how we treat each other, whose voices are heard and our vision for the future. When inclusion is embraced, it is a process that leads to the ultimate goal of belonging.
We recognize that family involvement is critical to Keshet’s success, and the success of our participants. It’s why family engagement in all areas of our programing is an important value driving our growth.
It takes courage and vision, but Keshet is driven to dream bigger, build better and accomplish more for our participants, their families, our staff and the community. Dreaming big means building a future where we’ll always be here for our families—creating and improving programs and environments that will grow as our children grow into adults.
Parents and families never want to hear “no” for an answer. Neither does the community, our partners and our peers. Keshet has always looked for answers to near impossible issues because we know, in the end, it drives participant connection and success, program growth, staff engagement, and it literally says, there’s no limit to what we’ll be able to do together.
No participant should be turned away for inability to pay for services. We tirelessly strive to collaborate with donors, foundations and program partners to keep tuition reasonable and scholarships available.
Keshet creates an invigorating and loving environment for children, teens and adults with special needs and disabilities. Consisting of over 75 programs, 3 residences, 200 dedicated staff, dozens of partners and corporate contributors, and thousands of engaged donors around the world, few organizations compare to Keshet. Through inclusive programs, community involvement and consultations, Keshet's impact expands far beyond the 600 participants served each year with one goal in mind: creating communities of belonging.
Drawing from the engaged, diverse and dynamic community around us, Keshet continues to grow in support and impact for our families. Thanks to our great donors, staff, partners and volunteers, great things really can come from small beginnings.
Community partnerships with organizations, synagogues and businesses
Generous annual donors
Active volunteers in all programs ranging in age from 9-94
School and camp peers, volunteers, family members, coworkers and friends impacted each year
The need to support those with disabilities continues from childhood into adulthood and beyond. It’s why Keshet’s vision is to be there for our families and participants throughout their lifetimes.
Many different skills. Many different backgrounds. Many different passions. But our team has one thing in common that draws them together…the belief that, at Keshet, they can support our participants and their families to live their best lives.
Each word equally represents our past, who we are today, and the impact we will have in the future.
Forever: We are building today, so we can be here forever…for all our participants, for our communities, for our families and as a model and inspiration for all.
Growing: Growing our family, our programs, our footprint, our impact, our influence, our connection, our team, our ability to inspire, our participants, our leadership and so much more.
Keshet. Forever Growing. It’s a powerful, and inspirational message to our families, to our communities, and to ourselves. And our mantra that drives us forward every day.