Scarsdale Adult School Partners with
Jewish Braille Institute

Scarsdale Adult School has developed a new partnership with The Jewish Braille Institute (JBI) in an effort to share educational content with persons who have visual impairment, reading disability or physical disability. Scarsdale Adult School instructor Andrée Aelion Brooks (in photo) recently gave a two-part lecture, “Immigrant Jews, Coming to America,” which was recorded and will now be included in JBI’s Audio Cultural Series. The lecture will be available, free of charge, to approximately 700 blind and visually impaired individuals who receive JBI’s Cultural Series each month.

Andrée Aelion Brooks is a journalist, author, and lecturer, with more than 1,800 articles published in The New York Times, and four award-winning books. She primarily covers topics on lesser-known Jewish History in her lectures and writing. As an instructor at Scarsdale Adult School (SAS), Brooks teaches fascinating and unique Jewish history classes, including “Food in the History of the Jews,” “Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Pioneer Jews of the Wild West,” and the lecture included in JBI’s cultural series, “Immigrant Jews, Coming to America.”

“We are thrilled to partner with JBI to bring culturally edifying opportunities to individuals who are visually impaired,” said Jill Serling, Executive Director of Scarsdale Adult School. “The Jewish Braille Institute and Scarsdale Adult School share similar values, as we both desire the educational enrichment of our community, no matter the age, background or abilities. We are excited for the benefits the community will receive because of this partnership!”

The Jewish Braille Institute is a non-profit organization with the goal of meeting the cultural and educational needs of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, reading disabled, or physically disabled. JBI offers an extensive free library of Jewish-interest materials (very broadly defined), including books, periodicals, special publications, and lectures in Audio, Large Print and Braille formats. The majority of JBI’s listeners are older adults confronting vision loss as a result of age-related vision disease.

The Scarsdale Adult School was established in 1938 as an independent, not-for-profit organization chartered by the New York State Regents. SAS is a continuing education community that welcomes all adults, regardless of residency. All classes are offered online and in-person with both day and evening times. Subjects range from art appreciation, literature, history, and music to computer use, crafts, fitness, cooking, dancing, and bridge. The Scarsdale Adult School is supported solely by course fees and tax-deductible gifts.