Be Prepared from page 44
Guest Column
Elevate your campus years
to discovering who you are
as a Jew — and the Jew
you want to become.
Book Fair-featured books provide resource-
ful, informative reading. Left-wing J Street
makes clear why it also opposes BDS.
Make your campus years more than a
career finder. Elevate them to discovering
who you are as a Jew — and the Jew you
want to become. Learn why the Jewish
people today have an indigenous claim to
certainly parts of the West Bank (biblically
Judea and Samaria), how Arab-controlled
areas of the West Bank fell under Israeli
military control, why the Jewish people
have a rightful claim to Jerusalem as their
eternal, undivided capital, and why and how
Israel has become a global innovator and a
democratic leader — and a haven for Jewish
expression — despite its
dangerous neighborhood.
Gary Rosenblatt, for-
mer editor of the Detroit
Jewish News, put it well in
an April 15 letter he wrote
to high school seniors
reading the Jewish Week
— a letter that echoed for
Gary
me and stirred my ver-
Rosenblatt
sion.
"It's an inspiring story
but don't take my word for it:' Rosenblatt
wrote. "You owe it to yourself to see why our
connection to the State of Israel should be
viewed as a source of deep pride, even as we
strive to see it fulfill its biblical mandate, and
ours, to be a light unto the nations"
Please, high school seniors: Embrace your
workplace or campus years. But be primed to
seek the insight and desire to stand proudly
with Israel and the Jewish people as part of
your own Jewish journey.
❑
Dry Bones A SIMPLE TRUTH
THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAS A NATURAL
HISTORICAL AND LEGAL RIGHT TO ITS
HOMELAND AND TO ITS ETERNAL
CAPITAL, JERUSALEM.
HOW DID THE SIMPLE TRUTH COME TO
SOUND LIKE A RADICAL STATEMENT?
JARC's SpringElation At The Zoo
A special needs perspective on family.
A
utism, cerebral palsy, special
needs, specialist, therapy, medi-
cation, g-tubes, IEP, advocacy.
These are words spoken in my home
on a daily basis. Blessed with six amaz-
ing children, our family was bestowed
with three with special needs. Believe
me, I don't say that lightly. I say it to
remind myself and others that special
children are a gift. While I am happy
with my life and all my kids, my special
needs children require so much more
than any one person can give.
It can be overwhelming at times. So
many needs and so little time, money,
help and government services.
That's where JARC's incredible pro-
Milaine Grossbard and her family at SpringElation
gramming comes into our lives.
We have been a part of the JARC
the laws and how the law pertained
Program, which brings relief to my
family for 13 years. They first came into to my child was that essentially each
home three times a week with amaz-
my home when my daughter Chloe was
school district could define how they
ing respite workers who come to play,
3 years old. They said, "How can we
read and interpret the law so there is
feed, bathe, work with and simply hang
help you?" and we've been connected
no consistency between districts.
out with my special children. They are
to JARC ever since.
This was confusing, upset-
trained and organized, and my entire
Each year before a spe-
'91 ting and not for the weak-
family loves when our respite worker
cial needs child attends
, hearted. I found myself
comes. It takes the pressure off every-
public school, a parent
many times agreeing to
one in our home knowing that our
is required to attend an
things that were not in the
children are being cared for and we can
Individualized Education
best interest of my child at
have a few hours off for ourselves. This
Plan (IEP) meeting with
an IEP meeting just because
provides me much-needed break time
the school's special educa-
I was told there was simply
to recharge without worrying about my
tion team, which includes
no other alternative. Until
children.
a teacher, administrator,
now!
One of my favorite events of the
a few therapists and a
year is JARC's SpringElation at the
Mila ine
general education instruc-
Help When We Need It Detroit Zoo, which provides a sense of
Gross
bard
tor. The purpose is to talk
Through JARC's Advocacy
inclusion in a safe, fun environment. It
about our children, their
Program, a JARC advocate
allows my family to be a family without
strengths and weaknesses
joins us at all of my IEP
the stares or without concern for being
and to figure out what their goals and
meetings. In fact, I will never attend a
too loud. SpringElation allows our fam-
therapies should be for the upcoming
meeting without my JARC advocate,
ily to spend time with other families
school year.
Chaya Leah Tinman. Chaya Leah knows
like ours. There is also great food, a
The IEP process is intimidating
and understands the laws and looks
private party in the zoo and a bunch of
and, as parents, we feel a constant
out and speaks out for what is in the
other activities for our family to enjoy
struggle between knowing what is
best interests of my children in con-
and be a part of JARCs family.
in the best interests of our children
junction with the law.
Autism, cerebral palsy, special
and the resources available from the
She demands that the school write
needs, specialist, therapy, medica-
school district to meet the needs of
appropriate goals that could be under-
tion, g-tubes, IEP, advocacy. These
our special needs child. For example, if
stood and properly documented. She
are words spoken in my home on a
you feel a lot of therapy is important
not only advocates for my children,
daily basis. With the support of JARC
for your child to succeed, you have
she also teaches me how to be my own
I do not feel alone and I don't feel left
an entire group of school personnel
advocate and how to look through a
out. I am stronger and more knowl-
explaining that it is not possible, avail-
legal perspective, not just public opin-
edgeable about my children's rights.
able or necessary.
ion. She shows me that my children
I know my family has an organiza-
I recall sitting by myself at a recent
have rights – rights to be themselves,
tion that will grow with them as they
IEP meeting where I was given false
and no one can discriminate against
age, offering services like advocacy
information with no evidence to sup-
them. I learned how to listen better
and respite. JARC has always been a
port the teachers' conclusions. I was
to make sure my children receive the
part of our home and one day hope-
provided a pamphlet called "Special
services that they are legally entitled
fully when my children are older they
Education Law" that details the laws
to and deserve. For this I am grateful
will be a part of a JARC home. ❑
pertaining to special education, though
for JARC.
it is too confusing to read. However,
Another vital service JARC provides
Milaine Grossbard lives in Southfield with her
what I learned from trying to decipher
me and my family is the JARC Respite
husband, Gavriel.
www.israelrights.com
May
28 • 2015
45