Up F ro n

A Fulfilling Life

On My Own is creating opportunities for independence
for people with mild developmental disabilities.

ing him and listening to him,"
means being on call 24 hours a day. It
Rabinowitz said. "He's so busy now
means finding jobs and apartments for
Special to The Jewish News
Between classes and his job and going
On My Own members. It means tak-
to a friend's apartment, he's never
ing
calls
from
parents
nervous
about
evan Shink is soaring on a
home. He's a different person now He
this
step
in
their
children's
lives.
new set of wings. "I like
seems much more self-confident. It
For
Garek,
who
serves
as
youth
earning my own paycheck
shows in the way he carries himself."
adviser at Temples Shir Shalom and
and paying for things in
On My Own offers support classes
Kol Ami, it also means calling on
my apartment. I'm saving to go on a
for parents and is establishing a men-
Temple
Israel
Rabbi
Josh
Bennett
to
cruise," he said. He and his roommate
teach Jewish On My Owners about
"have dinner together, but we like dif-
their heritage. She estimates that 10 to
ferent foods, so we [cook] it on our
15 of the organization's 41 members
own."
are
Jewish.
Not unusual observations or
Bennett is considering teaching a
remarkable comments from a young
class on Passover and another on cele-
man who has just moved out of his
brating Shabbat. "We are taking steps
parents' house. Until you realize that
to include all facets of the Jewish com-
Shink is a 29-year-old developmental-
munity, to reach out to an additional
ly disabled adult' relishing newfound
part of the community not yet
freedoms and responsibilities.
touched by Judaism," he said.
Shink is taking steps toward mak-
Shink plans to take Bennett's classes
ing a life for himself with the guidance
with
another On ,My Own member,
of On My Own, a program that pro-
Adam
Bender, who moved into his
vides independent living opportunities
own apartment at the Somerset com-
— Trisha Garek
for 10 adults with mild and borderline
plex last March, one day shy of his
developmental disabilities.
30th birthday.
The members
g "He wasn't
live at the Somerset
toring program to ease new parents
overwhelmed
Apartments in Troy
through their children's transition.
1:1 with the idea"
within walking dis-
Shink's mother, Pat, will be a men-
of a class on
tance to shopping, a
tor.
Judaism, said
library, bus lines,
Yet, adjusting to her son's leaving
Bender's moth-
job opportunities
home wasn't smooth. "It's been hard
er, Carol
and, most impor-
letting go," Pat admitted. "But I felt it
Rabinowitz.
tant, one another.
was important for Kevan to be out at
"But we said,
Members who live
this age ... I wanted to be here and
`Why don't you
in apartments are
enjoy his independence. At first it was
try it?'"
required to work
I was so excited. Then I got a little
When
part-time and to
sad. I'd call On My Own and they
Bender became
take two On My
were there for me. In the beginning, I
bar mitzvah, she
Own classes per
must have called them every day."
said, "there was
quarter. Class offer-
Kevan Shink's skills now include
hardly anything
ings run from the
taking the bus from Troy to his job at
for people like
practical — han-
the Half-Off Card Shop in
my son." Now,
dling stress, apart-
Farmington Hills. They include host-
she noted, the
ment living and
ing pizza parties at his apartment
Jewish commu-
cleaning — to golf
because, he said, "My apartment is
nity, through
and tennis outings
one of the bigger ones."
Adam Bender, left, kids around with Trisha Garek and Kevan
the Jewish
and dinners at local
They include grocery shopping,
Association for
eateries.
paying
bills, cleaning his apartment.
Residential
Care
(JARC),
is
attempt-
how to socialize so they can have a
"Our model is a college campus,"
And
they
include vacations — to a
ing
to
address
the
special
needs
of
happy and productive life," Garek
said Program Coordinator Trisha
dude
ranch
in August and on a cruise
families
with
children
whO
have
said. "We work with the whole being
Garek said, explaining that members
once
funds
are
saved, Shink says, pride
developmental disabilities.
— their emotional behavior, social
are encouraged to socialize with each
shining
in
his
blue
eyes.
"The changes in Adam are enor-
skills, spirituality."
other over videos and pizza.
"It's
my
own
individual
life." ❑
mous. You can pick it up from watch-
Working with the whole being
"We offer assistance and teach them

DEBRA B. DARVICK

IC

how to get along. We help them make
dinner, make sure their menu plans
are nutritious. They have to page in
with us when they leave for work and
return home. We teach them how to
make plans, how to make friends, all
those different kinds of living skills
that we take for granted
"We break them down and then
they can do it on their own. And once
they do it, they have the skill for life."
Garek, whose duties include visit-
ing, counseling, teaching, brainstorm-
ing and advocating for On My Own
members and their parents, is no
stranger to the needs of people with
developmental disabilities; her sister
falls into that category.
She says On My Own is unique in
that it provides services for people
who "fall into a gray zone," individu-
als who are ineligible for governmerit
assistance because they are considered
too high functioning.
"Our purpose is to help them learn

"We work with
the whole being
their emotional
behavior, social
skills, spirituality."

6/19
1998

19