For the third year, J-ADD, the Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities, invites the community to its annual conference, to be held this Sunday, March 26, at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., with sessions to be held throughout the day. The organization has partnered with top organizations in the field, including Jewish Family and Children’s Services, SINAI Schools and the Jewish Federation, to host this important conference.
“We’re really excited for this year’s keynote presentation,” said J-ADD’s Executive Director Dr. John Winer. In a switch from typical speaker keynotes, this year’s conference will be a special screening of the film “My Hero Brother,” which follows a group of remarkable young people with Down Syndrome as they and their siblings embark on a trip through the Indian Himalayas. “The movie records the experience at all levels, trials and tribulations and relationships,” Winer noted. Enosh Castle, the producer of the movie as well as a brother of a participant on the trip will then discuss what it was like as a participant. Winer explained one of the takeaways of this films is that it drives home an important awareness for everyone. “Just because someone has a disability does not mean that they can’t do things. It means that everyone has different ways of going about the same activities.”
The powerful film and workshop is just one part of this educational and interactive day. This year the speakers aim to appeal to a broader group of people, with a focus on quality improvements and change involving families. “We are looking to encourage family-friendly interactions,” said Winer.
Many workshops revolve around the ability to help adults with disabilities transition to a level of independence. Experts in the field will cover a variety of topics in the breakout sessions. As part of the school-to-adult transition process, one of the sessions will discuss employment options for individuals with disabilities. Among the presenters will be Sandra Bleckman, who developed a program for reaching out and placing differently abled adults, as well as Teaneck’s own Chani Herrman of Yachad. This topic will not only include employment issues, but will even go through the pre-job phase and help guide families through the process.
Another important topic that will be covered is the housing opportunities that can be explored. “This year we are taking a different approach,” explained Winer. “Not only will we have individuals available who can discuss the technical aspects of finding traditional living accommodations, but we will also have an architect and a contractor on the panel who specialize in adapting homes by adding accessibility and finding practical solutions in current environments.” Winer explained that due to delays in the housing process, individuals end up waiting for something to open up. With some of the adaptations, adults with different housing needs can be proactive about their living space, and look at things from the perspective of, “What can I do while I wait for housing? Or even instead of housing?”
In the dynamic world of disability awareness and inclusion, J-ADD provides a practical and informative collection of sessions and discussions. This conference is free of charge and is open to anyone interested in the topics and many resources available. To register, please email [email protected] with the name and number of people attending.
By Jenny Gans
