ie
said. "Not only does Yachad have an
impact on the special needs popula-
tion, but it also has given people,
who perhaps once felt uncomfortable
around this population, the chance
to get to know and appreciate their
strengths and accept their differences"
He said he has learned impor-
tant lessons from his new friends at
Yachad. "They don't judge, they don't
hate, they are loyal and, unlike the
average young adult, the simplest
things make them happy" Zach said.
"On a recent Yachad Shabbaton, our
planned Saturday night activity was to
go bowling. After a half-hour bus ride,
we find out the bowling alley over-
booked and could not accommodate
our group. I was disappointed, but I
was pleasantly surprised by the reac-
tion of my special needs friends. They
were not disappointed; rather they
were so happy just having fun being
together on the bus"
Other Agencies Weigh In
"We are not here to compete with other
programs, like Friendship Circle and
JARC," Lazar said. "In fact, we would
like to talk to Rick Loewenstein [CEO
of the Farmington Hills-based JARC]
and start inviting their clients into our
programs"
One of the nation's largest providers
of community-based Jewish residential
services, JARC offers support, relation-
ships and engagement with the com-
munity for individuals with disabilities.
"I agree with Jeff Lazar" Loewenstein
said. "The more quality programs for
young adults with developmental and
intellectual disabilities in our commu-
nity the better.
"There is an unmet need in the
Orthodox community for this type of
programming" he said. "JARC's School
Inclusion program is, however, deeply
engaged in the Orthodox community,
specifically in the Jewish day schools.
Having said that, I think Yachad
Detroit will provide an unmet need,
and we look forward to working with
them to promote full inclusion for
young adults with disabilities"
Some Yachad members have been
involved in Friendship Circle, which
pairs teen volunteers with individuals
with special needs and provides pro-
grams and support for their families.
"We realize that the need is great
and is growing" said Rabbi Levi
Shemtov, executive director of
Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield.
"Any organization that provides pro-
gramming for children with special
needs and their families plays a very
important role in our community:'
Yachad Detroit is one of 14 U.S.
chapters of the New York-based
Yachad: the National Jewish Council
for Disabilities, an agency of the
Orthodox Union. Chapters also exist in
Toronto and Jerusalem.
"The hope is for Yachad Detroit to
gradually include more of the pro-
gramming of the national group" Lazar
said.
Without a base, Yachad Detroit
meetings and programs take place in
the homes of staff and volunteers as
well as synagogues and outside venues.
Program costs include a minimal
charge per activity as well as a $50
membership fee, with scholarships
available. Fundraising projects also
take care of some expenses. Sponsors
are being sought for Parsha and Pizza,
for example, because parents and staff
members often cover the additional
costs.
Internationally, Yachad serves 5,000
individuals in programs including
summer experiences and individual-
ized vocational development schools.
Sensitivity training workshops are
offered for junior and senior high
school students, along with social skills
training and job training and place-
ment for Yachad participants, and
social and support programs for family
members.
Yachad's Our Way for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing similarly serves the
Jewish population with hearing issues.
"Our son, Jacob, has been going
to sleep-away camp in Pennsylvania
through Yachad for the past six years"
Ethan Gross said. "He went to Camp
Nesher, an NCSY camp that has Yachad
staff come in for part of the summer.
The Yachad kids are integrated into the
program with other campers who do
the same activities. Jacob is very outgo-
ing and friendly and is fairly athletic
and likes to participate"
The connection between Yachad
members and volunteers is priceless.
"Most importantly, I have learned
how much a smile can mean to some-
one" Yardena said. "Some participants
of Yachad have a hard time speaking
and communicating. However, I know
that I am doing something right when
I am working with them and see a
huge smile on their face"
To Linda Friedman, "Yachad is a
mitzvah, a dream come true; like a
family. Danny talks about Yachad as
`my Jewish group:
"He talks about 'my Jewish friends:
Danny likes to belong:'
❑
For information on Yachad
Detroit, to make a donation,
sponsor or partially sponsor
Parsha and Pizza or to order
tribute cards, email Jeff Lazar at
DetroitYachad@ou.org .
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