Dear Jewish philanthropist (no matter if you are a small or large donor), Hello and Shalom!

I am writing to invite you to join us in an exciting new project (see http://www.respectabilityusa.org/#!about/cfvg) that qualifies to apply for a new 1-1 Jewish Funders Network matching grant. Our chair is Donn Weinberg from the Henry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Weve already met one-on-one with sixteen Governors as well as with five future Presidential candidates from both political parties. Last month we did an event with the White House on inclusion of Jewish kids with disabilities in Jewish life. We want you involved! Our mission is to (1) reshape the attitudes of American society so that people with disabilities can more fully participate in and contribute to society, and (2) empower people with disabilities to achieve as much of the American Dream as their abilities and efforts permit (including those in the Jewish community as well as in Israel-connected activities). RespectAbility does not provide direct services or lobby. Rather, we work for systemic change, to educate, sensitize and engage Americans to focus on what people with disabilities can do, rather than on what they cannot do. Because 70% of working age Americans with disabilities are out of the workforce, our main objective is to help ensure that workforce participation of people with disabilities is enhanced both to capitalize on their economic contributions and to increase the greater American economic pie. We are a civil rights organization, working to create a mass movement for dramatic positive social change. We want to empower people with disabilities to achieve the American dream. Inclusion and integration of people with disabilities into their communities, including Jewish communities (e.g., schools, camps, employment, pro-Israel activity and the like), is also a key focus. In fact, this was one of the issues that motivated me personally to become actively involved with disabilities issues. We have just completed a poll of 2,607 Jews that shows that inclusion of people with disabilities is a core value for Jews. Yet words are much easier than deeds. Sadly, as I know personally, Jews with disabilities and their families are often shut out of Jewish life. Our poll showed they and their entire families are dramatically under-represented in the rolls of engaged Jews. Moreover, 1 out of 5 Jews with disabilities in the sample reported that they have not been accepted or able to participate in Jewish life because of their disability. See http://www.respectabilityusa.org/#!news/c1unp. This in turns impacts the involvement of their entire families. Our efforts are rooted in promoting social justice and human rights and we will apply proven strategic communication techniques to do so. Our ultimate goal is to increase the number of Americans with disabilities who (a) engage in gainful employment, (b) start and sustain their own businesses, (c) lift themselves into the middle class, and (d) participate in their communities (including the Jewish and pro-Israel communities) to the extent of their ability. Today, 20% of Americans have some kind of disability and 51% of American voters either have a disability or a loved one with a disability. These Americans should have a seat at the table as a powerful voting block so that people with disabilities can become - and be seen as capable, self-supporting, and contributing citizens. Until now, however, the disability communitys efforts have remained fragmented, undermining the power of common sense coordinated action, and relegating millions of Americans to a life of unemployment and dependency.

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Our goal is to change perceptions and realities about the abilities and potential contributions of people with disabilities among decision-makers in government, business, media, and local and religious communities using, whenever relevant, the Jewish community to demonstrate how change can be effected. We will educate, empower and inspire so that Americans perceptions, attitudes, and actions concerning people with disabilities will change, and so that people with disabilities can have greater opportunities to achieve the American dream. RespectAbility will partner closely with existing local and national nonprofit disability organizations and leaders providing new techniques to implement widespread change. Our measure of success will be tracked in metrics. RespectAbility will promote systemic change; involve constituents in planning and decisionmaking; encourage volunteer and professional development; and engage in ongoing program evaluation. Strategic communications campaigns have successfully changed public attitudes on many issues from behavioral to political (i.e. smoking, sanctions on Iran, healthy eating, support for Israel, AIDs prevention and seatbelt use). Our teams can -do track record, a business plan that profoundly engages all sectors, and the caliber of colleagues that we have already recruited all speak to the tremendous capacity of strategic communications to achieve break-through successes on the disabilities issue as well. Because RespectAbilitys data and expertise will be widely shared, the work of the organization will have an immediate and magnified impact. Please, go onto our website and get our full business plan. See the proposal below and press clips enclosed. Lets talk! My number is 202 365 0787. We hope you will join us in fulfilling our mission to empower people with disabilities to achieve the American dream! Sincerely, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi President, www.RespectAbilityUSA.org

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
A. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND FOR RESPECTABILITY

RespectAbilityUSA is a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization working to empower more Americans with disabilities to achieve the American dream. Our mission is to: 1. Reshape the attitudes of American society so that people with disabilities (both inside the Jewish community and more broadly) can more fully participate in and contribute to society; and 2. Empower people with disabilities to achieve as much of the American Dream as their abilities and efforts permit. Our chair is Donn Weinberg of the H.J. Weinberg Foundation and our President/CEO is Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi. We were founded in July, 2013 and are working out of the offices and 501C3 status of the Autism Society in Bethesda, MD. In the months that we have been operating we have made tremendous strides. This includes completing baseline focus groups with Republican Hill staffers/think tanks and polling of 2607 engaged Jews; the publication in national newspapers of several op-eds authored or ghost-written by RespectAbility staff and volunteers; and we have been instrumental in working with 16 different Governors and five likely future Presidential candidates on disability issues. Recently, we held an event at Vice President Joe
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Bidens official residence where a group of children with and without disabilities worked together to decorate the first official Vice Presidential sukkah. A. PURPOSE OF REQUEST AND ANTICIPATED RESULTS 1) THE NATURE AND MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM According to the U.S. Census 18.6% of Americans have a disability (more than 56 million people). Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, there has been ZERO improvement in the percentage of Americans with disabilities in the workforce. Moreover: 70% of working-age Americans with disabilities are not working (compared to 28% of Americans without disabilities). Millions of Americans with disabilities live in or near poverty. 51% of American voters either have a disability or a loved one with a disability. Yet until now this group does not have a powerful voice so that people with disabilities can be seen as -- and become -- capable, self-supporting, and contributing citizens. A group of 100+ national disability groups are working together to empower people with disabilities (PWDs) and they need scientifically developed strategic communications to enable success. Likewise, those in the Jewish community who support inclusion of PWDs need such tools. The US spends about $350 billion annually to support unemployed people with disabilities, even though research has shown that 67% of those of working age would rather be working. Despite egalitarian principles within the religious communities, many people with disabilities including many Jews are excluded from religious and Jewish life and pro-Israel involvement. This in turns undermines future prospects of the Jewish community as a whole as discrimination violates the very foundation of Jewish values. 2) RESPECTABILITY: A MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL CHANGE RespectAbility will use proven strategic communications techniques to educate, empower and inspire so that Americans with disabilities can achieve true equal rights and opportunities in our nation in pursuit of the American dream. Building on models that have been successfully applied with other issues (i.e. smoking, sanctions on Iran, healthy eating, support for Israel, AIDs prevention and seatbelt use), our goal is to change perceptions about the abilities and potential contributions of people with disabilities among decision makers in government, business, media, faith and local communities. Our work will be anchored in three core strategies: 1) Use public opinion research to understand the hopes, dreams and challenges of Americans with disabilities, and deploy strategic communications techniques to translate that information directly to policymakers in Washington, leaders across America and other stakeholders both inside and outside the Jewish community. 2) Identify cost-effective best practices to help people with disabilities achieve inclusion, integrated and competitive employment as well as independence. 3) Share the public opinion research and these best practices with high-impact decisionmakers in State and Federal governments, the private sector, faith-based organizations, media, non-profits, disability leaders and activists and philanthropists. We are working in a coalition of 100 national disability groups and are the first group to bring sophisticated
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strategic communications tools for the benefit of all the disability groups. We are also working with dozens of Jewish leaders and groups towards inclusion in the Jewish community. In all our work we are working to be a force-multiplier for success. Building on the strong momentum that currently exists, a key part of our outreach and sharing best practices will be done in state specific summits and tasks forces created to harness the energies of different sectors to work together to dramatically improve outcomes in disability employment. The program was developed with a huge amount of input from people who have been working in the field for decades. Key inspiration was drawn from this Senate report: http://www.harkin.senate.gov/documents/pdf/500469b49b364.pdf as well as from work with Governor Jack Markell during his recently completed chairmanship of the National Governors Association. His specific efforts created: http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/2013/NGA_2013BetterBottomLineWeb.pdf. However, Gov. Markels chairmanship just ended and an outside group needs to take it from the wonderful launch that the NGA platform offered and build on the momentum that Gov. Markel has generated. PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS: Americans with Disabilities: It is estimated that at least 10 million Americans with disabilities are currently capable of employment in integrated settings at minimum wage or above and want to work. We will consistently poll statistically valid samples of them to find their hopes, dreams, expectations and fears. We will partner with other disability groups as a force multiplier and will aggressively employ social media to reach out to this population. We will also be actively engaged with family members and providers who work with PWDs. We have already formed broad coalitions with disability groups and are providing toolkits and training (see http://www.respectabilityusa.org/#!toolkit/c16ym and http://www.respectabilityusa.org/#!resources/cf4n) to enable collaboration and success. The Federal and State Government: Positive change will require strong bipartisan cooperation as well as public-private partnerships. Elected officials must start to see Americans with disabilities as a powerful swing voter group. We are working especially closely with Governor Jack Markell (D), immediate past chair of the National Governors Association, as well as the offices of Sen. Tom Harkin (D), Rep. Pete Sessions (R), Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) and Rep. Brad Sherman (D) all of whom either are top leaders or will be in the future on these issues. We have already met 1-1 with 16 of the Governors and are reaching out to the others now. Gov. Walker of WI (R) and Gov. Branstad of Iowa (R), with our urging, have already hosted statewide summits on employment of people with disabilities. Several others have already committed to do so as well. Three of those Governors (Christie (R), Scott (R) and OMalley (D)) are looking at Presidential runs. We have also spoken with former Governor Jeb Bush (R) and with Rep. Paul Ryan (R). We will reach out to all potential presidential candidates from both parties with the very realistic expectation that we will be able to get disability issues and justice on the agenda for the 2016 election cycle. We have already spoken with a key member of any future campaign for former SoS Hillary R. Clinton. The Private Sector: Empowerment and employment of people with disabilities has become a practice at companies such as Walgreens, Bank of America, Marriott, Disney, TimeWarner and
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AMC Theaters, who have found that they can do good and do well at the same time. When done right, employing people with disabilities can improve the corporate bottom line and improve shareholder value. However, many companies may still think of employees with disabilities in terms of quotas to meet for government contracts, or are concerned about the legal risks associated with dismissing employees with disabilities who fail to perform at their job. These are real challenges that need to be addressed. We can only be successful on a large scale when hiring employees with disabilities is win-win for employers and employees alike. We are already working especially closely with USBLN as well as successful companies such as Walgreens and Marriot who are deeply committed to disability employment. Philanthropists: Philanthropists play a major role in making the world a better place. We want to work with foundations that are improving workplace development, disability and poverty issues to help them enable front-line leaders to frame their messages more effectively. We also want to sensitize funders who fund outside this space to expect that their grantees do not discriminate against PWDs. This is especially important in religious institutions who are legally exempted from the ADA requirements. The Media: While NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, PBS NewsHour and The Boston Globe offer some quality coverage of disability issues periodically, no major media outlet has done consistent reporting on disability issues. Major media outlets do not have a disabilities beat for reporters, despite the fact that those with disabilities represent a group in the same way as Latinos, African-Americans and others followed by the media. RespectAbility will work with disability groups and experts to educate the media so that their coverage can inspire positive change. Already we have built a good starting media list. We worked with CNBC on what many in the disability community are calling the best ever news piece on disability employment. See http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000193204. We are also working to follow the model of GLAAD in how they worked successfully to get more LBGT characters into the entertainment media. Today only 1% of characters on scripted network TV (i.e. CBS, NBC, ABC etc.) have a disability, compared to 18.6% of the population. Faith-Based Groups: Religious leaders have previously been at the forefront of civil rights in America, and can do much more to help people with disabilities learn how to fish for themselves. Moreover, inclusion and integration of people with disabilities into their religious communities is a key focus of RespectAbility. We are working in the Jewish community to increase access and success there and to use it as a model for all other faith communities. Our recent poll of 2,607 Jews showed that inclusion of people with disabilities is a core value for Jews and indeed very important for Jewish survival. See http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/ protecting-jewish-survival-by-including-jews-with-disabilities. 3) ANTICIPATED RESULTS RespectAbility will use education, performance metrics and facts to change perceptions among decision-makers in government and corporate America. We will show that: Millions more Americans with disabilities can work to achieve the American dream Employers who hire people with disabilities can enjoy profitability and do good at the same time Inclusion of people with disabilities including in faith communities is win-win for all involved.

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We will partner extensively with a broad array of national disability and Jewish organizations, which is key as collectively they have hundreds of thousands of activists who can be recruited to the cause to guarantee more extensive consistency of messaging. Expected results include: Creation and dissemination of focus group reports and benchmark polling Distribution of case studies and access to experts on best practices for inclusion and for job creation A positive embrace by religious institutions, the private sector and philanthropists of best practices that help people with disabilities attain inclusion, jobs, independence and dignity Full opportunities for Jews with disabilities to be included in spectrum of Jewish life and Israel engagement. Increased media attention on the importance of empowering people with disabilities Access by all key stakeholders to experts on best practices for job creation Increased understanding among elected officials of what people with disabilities want Better public policy and outcomes on disability issues 4) METRICS: MEASURING SUCCESS Over progress will be measured by a number of factors, including: polls, op-eds and news pieces that we published fact sheets and successful models distributed to key decision makers, Commitments by leaders (including leaders within the Jewish community) to make real goals and progress for inclusion and employment for people with disabilities Amount of increase in employment rate for people with disabilities Amount of increased bipartisan cooperation and vision on disability issues Increase in the number of elected offices that recognize Americans with disabilities and their families and supporters as a powerful voter group Amount of increased in support of policies that help people with disabilities live independently Timeline: we have a very specific set of goals that are dependent on funding. Our full business plan can be found here: (http://www.scribd.com/doc/151152628/RespectAbility-Business-Plan) B. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY In four short months, RespectAbility has achieved monumental accomplishments including: A full day Capitol Hill training seminar attended by 50 disability advocates (see https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLXIew_rBwjXXZU-EtAXIw). 3 public opinion focus groups investigating perceptions among the disability community and Capitol Hill staffers. 1-on-1 meetings with 16 different governors at the August 2013 National Governors Association conference and 1-on-1 meetings with 5 different future potential presidential candidates (note 3 of them are counted in the Governors numbers as well). National poll of 2607 Jews. Broad partnerships with a huge range of leaders and groups including Governor Jack Markell, the Autism Society, NFB, USBLN, Best Buddies and others. Event with the White House where a group of Jewish kids decorated a Sukkah at the official residence of the Vice President for use at a VIP reception. Event was highlighted broadly in Jewish media, a positive example of inclusion.

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At the National Governors Association conference, we asked each Governor to host a statewide summit on disability employment that includes companies, people with disabilities, nonprofits, faith leaders, media, government, philanthropists etc. The first such summit was on Sept. 25th with the Governor of Wisconsin and a second was on Oct. 17th with the Governor of Iowa. Both were highly successful. Currently we are planning ones with Gov. Chris Christie of NJ, Gov. Jay Nixon of MO and Gov. Bryant of MS. We promoted the new toolkit offered by the National Governor's Association (see (http://ci.nga.org/cms/home/1213/index). So far their responses have been highly positive. In addition to focus groups and polls we have published several op-eds, ghost written several more and initiated and co-crafted what many in the disability field are calling the best ever TV segment on disability employment: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?play=1&video=3000193204. Funding from the Jacob and Hilda Foundation would enable us to further our work to create and implement a sophisticated educational and advocacy campaign in the United States. As a new organization, our current priority is raising enough funding to recruit more permanent staff. Right now we are operating with volunteers and fellows; primarily students with disabilities who are volunteering their time with the organization. However, we have already recruited a team that has the skills and proven experience needed to move our organization forward. The team is a virtual all-star roster of communications experts. Each member has run winning issue and political campaigns around the world. Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, (President/CEO), has thrice been recognized by the Forward as one of the 50 most influential Jews in America. She played a vital role in organizing campaign training seminars in the FSU and behind the Iron Curtain in 1989/90 to help overthrow communism through the ballot box. She was recognized as a Point of Light by President George H.W. Bush for founding and leading the DCJCC community services program under her tenure served 15,000 homeless, at risk youth and vulnerable seniors in Washington DC. She previously founded, and for a decade led, The Israel Project (TIP) and has also done successful advocacy efforts around the world. RespectAbility will mirror these techniques to create and implement a sophisticated educational campaign in the U.S. Donn Weinberg, (Chair), brings years of experience on these issues as former chair of the board of trustees of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation that provides millions of dollars in grants each year to non-profits working on disability issues and workforce development. Shelley Cohen is the group's secretary, and is proven leader for inclusion in the Jewish community. Thomas "Doc" Sweitzer and Louis Zweig also serve on the board with Weinberg, Cohen and Mizrahi. Additionally, RespectAbility has a board of advisors that have the experience and knowledge embedded in previous successful organizations that will assist in propelling our work forward, including: Kelly Buckland, Executive Director of The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) (see http://www.ncil.org/); Donna Meltzer, CEO of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) (see http://www.nacdd.org/site/home.aspx); Steve Tingus, worked as deputy assistant secretary for Planning and Evaluation for Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Mark Johnson, Director of Advocacy at the Shepherd Center (see www.shepherd.org/);
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Steve Eidelman, Executive Director of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation (see http://www.jpkf.org/) RespectAbility is non-partisan and will remain a fair broker of factual and breakthrough information that leaders can trust. To retain this status, we will work with leading pollsters from both sides of the political aisle including Frank Luntz, PhD, Stanley Greenberg, PhD and Neil Newhouse. The daily needs of the non-profit are met by fellows all of whom have disabilities and/or have worked in the field of disabilities. RespectAbility is already partnering with existing nonprofit disability organizations. Our meetings with governors were initiated and led by RespectAbility but were conducted alongside several leading disability advocates and organizations in the country, including: Jill Houghton, executive director of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) (see http://www.usbln.org/); Scott Badesch, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Society of America (see http://www.autism-society.org/); John Pare, Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) (see https://nfb.org/); and Lisa Derx, Vice President for Government Relations at Best Buddies International, Inc. (see http://www.bestbuddies.org/ ) FUNDING REQUEST TO BUILD CAPACITY We are brand new and need seed money including in the form of matching grants that can help inspire new donors and propel this vital work forward. Our work is tax deductible through the Autism Society. RespectAbilitys President, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, has donated $70,000 in startup money and is working for free alongside six full-time volunteers. We will likely use all of your funding as a 1-1 match to other new donors so that we can start to build new donors and sustainability. We are ready to implement all the ideas outlined above but need your investment. Checks should be made out to: RespectAbility, a project of the Autism Society 4340 East-West Highway, Suite 350, Bethesda, MD 20814 202 365 0787, www.RespectAbilityUSA.org

Select Publications
USAToday | Michael J. Fox a Role Model for Disabled |September 25, 2013 The Times of Israel | Stop by the Vice President's Sukkah|September 24, 2013 Disability Scoop | Disability Concerns May Sway Vote |October, 2012 Haaretz|American Jews with Disabilities Excluded by Community | September 10, 2013 Jewish Journal |Mind the Inclusion Gap: Values vs. Reality |September 10, 2013
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Washington Jewish Week|Support of Disabled Jews Doesn't Translate into Action|September 10, 2013 Tablet Magazine | Jewish Activists Unite for RespectAbility | August 5, 2013 The PEW Charitable Trusts|Employing the Disabled|August 5, 2013 Washington Jewish Week|Israeli Playground, 'Sesame Street'help include kids with disabilities|July 31, 2013 New York Jewish Week|Window On Washington: How You Can Help Your Governor|August 1, 2013 New York Jewish Week|Can You Tell Me How To Get To An Inclusive Playground?(They're in Israel)|July 31, 2013 Washington Jewish Week|R-E-S-P-E-C-T New nonprofit will empower Americans with disabilities|July 11, 2013 New York Jewish Week |RespectAbility USA Sets Its Sights On Jobs, Power For People With Disabilities|July 3, 2013 Huffington Post |Getting People with Disabilities the Jobs They Need |December 11, 2012

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