12 Friday, October 19, 1984 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS " PAGES & PAGES, LTD. Bookstore PURELY COMMENTARY WE DISCOUNT! THE BEST BUY IN TOWN! HERITAGE Quality Merchandise Since 1899 "The beg thing •.rn( de ■ clIV . % i by ABBA EBAN $247 reg. $32.95 Continued from Page 2 ' HUNTERS SQUARE Farmington Hills Mon. thru Sat. 10-6 Wed. & Fri. 10-9 SUNDAY 12-5 855-5277 Announces the Opening of His Southfield Office for Tearing Problems October 1, 1984 Farmbrook Medical Complex 29877 Telegraph Road Suite 301 Southfield, Michigan 48034 By Appointment MEDICARE (313)356-0190 PROVIDER I LOANS- ARRANGED Debt consolidation, aircraft & marine financing, business expansion, mtgs., venture capital, farm & agricultural - trucking, funds, educational, inven- tions, franchises, theatrical productions funded, or for any sound purpose. Write in confidence complete details of your needs to: BATES BUSINESS CONSULTANTS Box 233 Montville, Connecticut 06353, U.S.A. or if you are in a hurry call: 1-203-848-8552 guys have specific duties that they're responsible for," Sherry says. "Some of them find this difficult to accept, be- cause they spent 20 years in in- stitutions before coming here. But our goal is to help them grow and become more inde- pendent. Tom elaborates, "Everyone helps with the chores around the house. Each resident has a laundry, cooking and trash day. The residents do lawn work and help shovel snow. Even if they can shovel only a foot of snow, they know that they had a part in it. We all pitch in to help." Helping around the house is just one part of a comprehen- sive program that assists the residents in learning daily liv- ing skills. "For each resident, I design five individual pro- grams to help them learn specific skills," Sherry ex- plains. For example, a pro- gram may deal with cooking or how to use a phone. As we work through the program, we document the residents' pro- gress. If the program isn't working, we make some ad- justments. Five staff members from the Jewish Association assist the Schamantes with program ac- tivities at the group home. "We all try to teach the guys to be independent so that they don't rely on us all the time," Tom explains. "The ultimate goal is to have the residents live on their own. Realistically, we know not everyone is going to make it, but that's no reason not to try." Working outside the home is one way to help the residents reach this goal. All six men are employed by the Jewish Voca- tional Service. They spend the morning completing simple tasks such as piecework or nut-and-bolt work. In the af- ternoon, they attend adult basic education classes, where they learn to read and write. Lack of privacy and freedom were two other difficult ad- justments the Schamantes had to make when they became live-in staff. We couldn't just take off whenever we wanted to anymore," Tom remembers. "A staff person always has to be in the house. And believe me, it's just like a big family — everyone knows what's hap- pening in our private lives." Living with six other people isn't always easy for the Schamantes, but they think the advantages outweigh the dis- advantages. "The guys have enriched our lives so much," Sherry says. "I get a lot of satis- faction seeing people who once were in institutions, probably sitting around all day, now laughing and joking. Knowing that I've done something to improve their lives makes it all worthwhile." For her five-year-old daugh- ter, Christina, having big brothers in the family is a lot of fun. Christina perplexed her classmates and teachers at school one day with her pro- nouncement that she has six brothers — and that two of • them are 60 years old! Like his daughter, Tom's been influenced by the six mentally retarded men who share his life. "I'm more aware of people's needs and the wrong that's done to handi- capped people," Tom says. "People don't understand the difference between mental re- tardation and mental illnest,, and so they're afraid. As I see . , it, educating people about these issues is part of our job." Before Tom and Sherry be- came resident managers, they were already aware of the con- troversy that has surrounded group homes since their incep- tion. A major fear of group– home opponents is that the homes devalue property in the neighborhood. "When we moved in four years ago, the neighbors we- ren't happy," Tom remembers,- "So we worked twice as hard to fit in. Now the neighbors know that we're just regular people, and we have a great re- lationship with them. One of our residents even acts as a companion for the bedridden man next door." Tom and Sherry's dedication hasn't gone unnoticed by those who work with them. The Jewish Association has pre- sented both of them with awards for their efforts. "I can't say enough good things about them," says Di- rector Keller. "They've grown. into the job. They're creative people who are sincerely' committed to the residents. They respect the residents and treat them as adults." The residents have made a lot of progress during the years that Tom and Sherry- have been with them, but the Schamantes aren't content yet. "There's so much more that can be accomplished," Tom says. "That's the great part about working with the guys. There's always a new chal- lenge. It's an exciting job with many rewards. We're planning on being here a long time." NEWS Soviet Jewry rally staged in Montreal Montreal (JTA) — About 3,000 persons held a mass demonstra- tion on behalf of Soviet Jews in downtown Montreal Sunday and then marched on the Soviet Con- sulate where, facing barred doors, they demanded human rights for Soviet Jewry and the right to' emigrate. Pupils and teachers from every,' Jewish day school in the area par- ticipated as did the two Jewish Members of Parliament from the Montreal area, Sheila Finestone and Gerry Wiener. Herbert Marx, a member of the Quebec National Assembly, and Mayor J. Lang of Cote St. Luke were also present along with leaders of the subur- ban communities.