This High Holiday season, families may have noticed a new addition in Congregation Beth Shalom’s lobby: a mobile sensory cart, created to help children and adults who benefit from sensory supports to more comfortably participate in services and community life.
The idea for the cart came from community member and PRS educator Nina McNay, who recently completed the project as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. McNay has worked at the Beth Shalom’s Polsky Religious School (PRS) for the past five years, most recently as the art specialist, and is passionate about helping all learners succeed.
Through her involvement with Sasone, Jewish Federation’s program focused on supporting children with disabilities and neurodiverse needs in Jewish educational settings — specifically her participation in the Sasone Teen Leadership Training — McNay learned about the growing movement toward inclusion and belonging in Jewish spaces. She saw an opportunity to bring those values directly into her home congregation.
Nina McNay
Working with her project advisor, Sasone Director Lindsey Lipsky, and PRS Director Civia White, McNay designed and assembled a sensory cart that includes a variety of tools to support self-regulation, comfort and participation. The cart features items such as noise-reducing headphones, fidget tools, visuals and other sensory materials chosen to meet diverse needs.
The sensory cart will be available during religious school, holiday services and other synagogue programs throughout the year. Its purpose is to provide a quiet, supportive option for any congregant who might need a brief sensory break or additional tools to feel calm and focused during prayer, learning, or community gatherings.
Funds for the project came from several sources, including snack-sale proceeds at PRS, a Parents’ Night Out fundraise and grants from both the Girl Scouts and Sasone. McNay’s family — her mother, Dawn Gale, and brother, Logan McNay — also played a key role in helping raise funds and assemble materials.
Community members are encouraged to treat the cart and its materials respectfully and to return items after use so that others can benefit. McNay shared her hope that this project helps create a more inclusive environment where every child and adult can find comfort and connection.
“This is an area where we can always grow,” she said. “The cart is just one way to show that Beth Shalom is a place where everyone belongs.”
“When we make our spaces accessible for those who need extra support, we strengthen the experience for the entire community,” Lipsky said. “Nina is an amazing young leader, and I am excited to see where she takes her passion for disability inclusion.”
More information about Sasone and its work in the Greater Kansas City Jewish community is available at sasone.org.
