Special Report

ACHIEVING DREAMS

JARC at 40 from page 11

"Calling JARC Changed Everything"

Milaine and Gabi Grossbard of
Southfield have five children. Chloe,
10, and Sabian, 6, have developmental
disabilities.
"My hands were full," Milaine said.
"When I called Laurel Berger in JARC's
children's department, she said, 'How
can we help.' JARC always meant older
people to me. Calling them changed
everything."
JARC assigned a respite care worker
to help the family, assigning hours
according to Milaine's needs.
"They were extremely accommodat-
ing and efficient at finding someone
safe," she said. "This gave me time
to get things done without taking a
Sabian Grossbard
wheelchair and kids with special needs
with me. Sometimes I just need to rest.
And the kids also get a break from me.
"Having someone there allows my older kids to have regular time for
themselves, too. They get to have that normalcy they don't usually have."
The Grossbards pay for the service on a sliding fee scale. They also under-
stand JARC will be there for them as their children grow into adulthood.
"I have hope for the future," Milaine said. "They make the group homes
accommodating to the people living there. As an Orthodox person, I know
they will help us make decisions on
religion and my child's abilities. They
will make it work for us.
"I am such a big fan of JARC. They
have treated me with the utmost
kindness and respect. They always
do it right. I am so grateful to them. I
can't imagine life without it."

Chloe Grossbard

I

JARC CEO Rick Loewenstein interacts with Vicki Ligerakis, Marlene Dorfman and

Margaret Berlin of JARC's Nusbaum home in Farmington Hills.

Home Sweet Home
When JARC's Samuel and Jean Frankel
Residential Services Division opened the
Grand home in West Bloomfield in April
2000, the neighbors were not that wel-
coming. But the six men who live there
won over their closest neighbor simply by
being persistent.
"Michael won him over by waving at
him all the time," said Lisa Green, man-
ager of the home. "Now all the neighbors
wave. Our house looks as good as the
others. They see the guys get up and go to
work just like they do. It's worked out."
The men have genuine affection for
each other. Most have known each other

"One thing I'm proudest about at JARC
is overcoming the community's best kept
secret:' Keller said.
"People didn't think there were Jewish
people with disabilities, only learning dis-
abled. Those with developmental disabili-
ties were usually kept at home and rarely
went out. People didn't have the exposure
they have now.
"We took people out of the shadows,
out of the closet and took the shame and
guilt away. These are people like everyone
else. They have some differences, but they
go out to movies, out to eat, to the JCC.
We gave them their rightful place in our
community."

JARC at 40 on page 14

JARC'S HISTORY:

A timeline of treating
people with dignity, respect
and love — how we all want
to be treated.

Enriching Lives. Erasing Barriers.

1981-1985:

1970-1975:

Organization changes

its name to the Association for the

1969:

A group of

parents concerned

A JARC-owned home is

firebombed before the residents

move in. The home is rebuilt and

opens several months later. Five more

Jewish Retarded. Its first group home

JARC group homes open, bringing the

is opened on Evergreen in Detroit.

total to 10. JARC expands to provide

about the future of

family assistance.

their adult children

with disabilities

1976-1980:

incorporates the

governments from using zoning ordinances to push

Helene Oliva

Parents Association

out foster care facilities or group homes. Three group

with JARC

for Jewish

homes open and services expand to include inde-

Executive

Residential Care.

pendent living arrangements. Joyce Keller becomes

Director

executive director. Organization changes its name to

Joyce Keller

Landmark Michigan law prohibits local

the Jewish Association for Retarded Citizens (JARC).

First public funding through the Macomb Oakland

Regional Center and Community Mental Health.

12

October' 8 • 2009

1986-1990:

JARC expands its
independent living program, opens

Early JARC leaders: Norman

three new group homes. Officially

Wachter and Sara Mitteldorf

changes its name to JARC.