Listen up, headphone companies! Rabbi Levi Stein and the Friendship Circle of Wisconsin may have discovered a new market for you. Thanks to the use of special headphones, 50 people with disabilities—many with sensory issues—were able to successfully take part in a recent 250-person community-wide Sukkah event.
When Rabbi Levi and Leah Stein moved to Milwaukee two years ago, members of the local Friendship Circle, a division of Lubavitch of Wisconsin, participated in the community-wide sukkah event. But there were some challenges. “There was a band, dancing and hundreds of people. It didn’t work out so well for our participants since the crowds and the noise were too much.” Last year, the Steins tried something a little different. They welcomed the Friendship Circle into their family sukkah. While the event was a big success, the Steins felt something was missing. “The point is not to be separate, but to be included in larger community events.”
So Stein had a new idea for this year. He hoped that a sensory-friendly Sukkot celebration would allow Friendship Circle participants and members of the larger community to come together for the Sukkot event. The Sept. 26 “Sukkot Street Party” at the Lubavitch House sukkah featured face-painting, balloon-twisting, street performers, dinner and snacks, a live band and dancing in the streets—and special headphones for those who might find the music to be loud and overstimulating. “When I called the headphone company, they said they never thought of the special-education aspect. I think it is a game-changer for them; they may have found a new market.” Stein rented 40 sets of headphones that light up in a range of colors.
Headsets Make a Big Difference
“Every adult with special needs got a noise-canceling headset with three tracks: off, low volume or high volume. Everyone at the event (with and without headphones) listened to the same music. Each color visible on the headphones represented another volume. Each person could decide what he or she felt comfortable with,” says Stein. And sukkah guests could enjoy the party from outside on the street or inside the Lubavitch House. “The room itself had no noise just everybody dancing to what they heard in the headsets.”
Jenny Lackner has worked for the past three years at the Friendship Bakery, located in the Lubavitch House building. She had been planning to go home after work, but says “I decided to stick around and not go home. I met the Friendship Group there and had a quiet little disco where you put headphones on and listen to music.” She reports that they listened to music and danced for half an hour and had dinner. “It was good; we didn’t hear all that loud music from outside. I think people enjoyed it!” Lackner loves her job at the bakery and such Friendship Circle activities as art nights. She is a big fan of the Steins. “Rabbi Stein and his wife are so nice. They are friendly and outgoing. I give them a lot of credit. They are doing a great job!”
Holli Silverstein Kramer attended the sukkah celebration with her two daughters, Ami Kramer and Randi Kramer. Ami has some areas of disability, and Randi is professionally connected to the field of special education. “Both daughters were at the sukkah event, as they usually are,” reports Holli. “Ami loves music, and the girls get to see each other!”
Silverstein Kramer relates that she helped start the Chicago Friendship Circle, then called Friendship Circle, as soon as she returned to Milwaukee eight years ago, and “we haven’t stopped since.” She is impressed at how well the Steins listen to parental concerns and input. She is especially pleased that the adult division is “quite active.”
And she loved this year’s sensory-friendly sukkah event. “It was so different from anything we’ve had before. It was amazing, fun, joyous, all-inclusive—with older and younger participants and caregivers and parents.” She described a disco ball hung at eye level, the many different colors and the headphones. “It makes a lot of sense. Some people can’t handle a lot of noise, big crowds and strangers. It was a fantastic idea. I am all for doing it again!”
The Steins were pleased as well. “It was incredible to see people with all abilities coming together and feeling like they had a place ... Everybody felt included and had a great time.” Given the number of special days on the Jewish calendar, the Steins and the headphone company are likely to find ways to continue their wonderful partnership.
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