How We Care for Adults with Disabilities
by Jane Gomez
Our greater MetroWest community makes it possible for all to live meaningful Jewish lives. Thanks to the dedication of committed women who understand the importance of community in the lives of all people, we are at the forefront of inclusive services for adults with disabilities. This article highlights a sample of some of the groundbreaking programming that Jewish Federation provides for adults with disabilities.
Thanks to the forward-thinking philosophy of the Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled (JSDD), adults with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to explore their interests and talents to the fullest at the WAE Center. The WAE (Wellness, Arts, Enrichment) Center, in its eleventh year of operation, provides a wide range of inspiring programming for adults with developmental disabilities. Offering a broad array of classes and activities including yoga, art, dance, radio, counseling, and Jewish learning, the WAE Center provides everyday inspiration for clients and volunteers alike. Lori Schuldiner-Schor, whose sister Marcy has Down syndrome and has spent the last ten years attending the WAE Center, notes that Marcy has accomplished things that would have been unthinkable earlier. An avid painter, Marcy has exhibited in galleries and shows. She corresponds with a pen pal in Poland. Most significantly, Lori and her sister held a 50th birthday party for Marcy at the WAE Center, a beautiful occasion celebrated among family and friends who have given Marcy’s life tremendous fullness.
Like the WAE Center, JESPY House has been a leader in offering opportunities for community inclusion and full participation. JESPY (Jewish Special Youth) House was founded in 1978 by a group of committed men and women who envisioned a fully inclusive community for people struggling with physical and/or mild cognitive challenges who did not qualify for more extensive state assistance. Today, JESPY provides residential, social, and vocational support to more than 200 clients who strive for more independent living. The hub of the JESPY community is Judi House, named in recognition of Judi Schechner, a community leader and past JESPY president, and located in the heart of South Orange. Judi House is a gathering place for clients and community, offering recreation, social, and informational activities that serve its mission of enhancing independence and community connections. JESPY clients – ranging in age from 18 to 70 — are diverse in their needs and skills. The agency has grown with its clients in innumerable ways since 1978; clients have married, celebrated births and professional achievements, and have, over the years, provided a supportive community for one another. At the same time, JESPY’s clients are able to fully integrate and access all that South Orange and surrounding communities have to offer. Currently, JESPY is implementing an extensive job-seeking program spearheaded by June Schechner, a member of the JESPY Executive Board and daughter-in-law of the late Judi Schechner. Interested volunteers should contact June at juneschechner18@gmail.com.
We women derive great strength from our community, and it stands to reason that we look to our community to provide fullness for the lives of our siblings and adult children with disabilities. Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, through its innovative and caring participants such as those in Women’s Philanthropy, continues to enrich the lives of all people.