On Sunday, February 14, the entire community is once again invited to the JCC on the Palisades to attend a conference entitled “The Bigger Picture.” This timely conference, in the middle of Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month, will address some of the critical issues that so many families of individuals with disabilities face in achieving inclusive and accessible lives for their family members.
Ms. Elizabeth Shea, assistant commissioner DHS, will open the conference with a presentation on “Accessing DDD-Funded Services in the New Fee-for-Service System: An Overview for Families.” The keynote address will feature well-known author Rachel Simon speaking on her experiences and, as a sibling of a person with a disability, their life lessons, eugenics, self-determination and more. Rachel has authored many books including “The Story of Beautiful Girl” and “Riding The Bus With My Sister” and will incorporate both into her keynote. Rachel will be available to autograph her books in the afternoon. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of the books will go to cover the costs of the conference. Additional speakers will include workshops on: special needs trusts, life care planning, ABLE Act vs. special needs trusts, adult sibling supports, supports for younger siblings, the “nos” and “know-hows” of financial planning, and the roles and needs of parents and grandparents.
The conference is being organized by J-ADD, JCCOTP, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, JFS of Bergen and North Hudson, JFS of Clifton-Passaic, JFS of North Jersey, OHEL, Sinai and Yachad with many local community organizations participating as well.
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is located at 411 E. Clinton Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the program runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Registration for the conference is preferred and costs $25 per person or $36 per couple. The conference is open to the public. To register for the conference, please contact [email protected]. If any other organizations still wish to participate as a vendor, please contact [email protected] for more information.
