Local Travel Consultant’s Special Niche: Special Needs Destination Bar/Bat Mitzvahs

Over a decade ago, travel guru Ellen Paderson was a pioneer with the concept of Destination Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Now Paderson expands her services, offering Special Needs Destination Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebrations.

Families with children who have special needs, such as learning disabilities, social anxiety, dyslexia, ADHD, Down Syndrome, motor skills challenges and other physical or mental differences can plan for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah experience tailored to a child’s specific learning needs.

Thanks to Paderson’s skill at combining professionals such as educators, tutors, rabbis and/or cantors with state of the art technical support such as Skype or FaceTime, families can experience the vacation of a lifetime, in tandem with a Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration that is designed to be the success experience that every parent hopes for.

One of Paderson’s tutors confirms that regardless of the learning difference, every child is teachable: “Our goal is to make it easy for the child to participate as much as possible in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony, to make them feel good about being Jewish and to appreciate their rich heritage, their roots, and who they are. We don’t get involved in health issues, but rather focus on how to get through to the student. We adapt the prayers and readings to fit the child so they can achieve goals, while ensuring they and their parents have a positive feeling and outcome.”

Another tutor who worked with twins, one of whom had Autism, puts it this way: “We began our lessons about six months before the trip and we focused on having each child accomplish prayers and blessings that were age and skill appropriate. We created a teaching/ learning experience that was challenging without pressure or stress. We adapt our lesson for the individual student.”

According to Jewish law, at age 13 for boys and age 12 for girls, young people become accountable for their actions. To become a bar or bat mitzvah (Hebrew for ‘son/daughter of the commandment.’) is an important milestone on the Jewish path to maturity.

Families have many reasons for choosing destination Bar or Bat Mitzvahs rather than a more traditional, close-to-home affair: A smaller, low-key event can help socially anxious or special needs children to be more comfortable; interfaith, divorced or widowed parents find it less stressful; a destination event offers a more intimate celebration for a longer period rather than one evening with 150 people. And a destination ceremony is often much more affordable.

Paderson, who has also orchestrated numerous adult Bar/Bat Mitzvahs – usually for those who never had one when they turned 13 (including herself), emphasizes that it is not possible to “miss” your Bar or Bat Mitzvah. She says, “Parents – often very busy or stressed – like the option of having a travel pro handle all the travel and resort or cruise arrangements. They trust me to make sure their child is ready for their big day in the spotlight – wherever that happens to be -- on a cruise ship, at a Costa Rican rain forest, or on the beach at an all-inclusive resort – anywhere in the world!”

Paderson notes that when family and friends join in, a typical destination bar/bat mitzvah often numbers between 4 to 50 guests.

As in any industry, travel industry pros often stake out unique niches to offer their clients and differentiate themselves from their competition. The Special Needs Destination Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program is a natural outgrowth of her 22-year-old travel business, Smiles & Miles Travel (www.barmitzvahvacations.com) and a highly successful offshoot, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons. To date, she has arranged over 100 destination and cruise Bar/Bat Mitzvahs in such unexpected venues as Alaska, Italy, Caribbean islands, and the Mediterranean. Of course, she has arranged many in Israel, too. The number of destination weddings is in the hundreds.)

Paderson, a ‘Best of the Best’ industry award winner for five consecutive years, is a member of The Affluent Traveler Collection, an elite group of independent travel advisors, and served on the Editorial Advisory Board of Travel Market Report. She has earned numerous travel certifications and designations, and has been featured in numerous media. Recently, she was an expert panelist at the Travel Market 2016 Conference in Palm Springs, California, and was recognized as an Elite agency by the NEST industry consortium. For more information, contact Ellen Paderson -- www.smilesandmilestravel.com / 508-238-4088 / ellenp1@comcast.net. Visit the website: www.smilesandmilestravel.com.

- By Stanley Hurwitz / 508-269-0570 / stanhurwitz@gmail.com

ATTENTION, Editor: For electronic images, interviews, contact Ellen Paderson directly, or Stan Hurwitz / 508-269-0570 / stanhurwitz@gmail.com