SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 39

 PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF AISEN

On Sunday, Aug. 20, JARC welcomed 
nearly 600 Metro Detroiters with 
developmental disabilities, their 
caregivers and families to Adat Shalom 
Synagogue in Farmington Hills to 
attend a special carnival. The event was 
specifically designed to accommodate 
individuals with developmental 
disabilities and/or sensory sensitives, 
who would likely be overwhelmed and 
overstimulated by a traditional loud and 
crowded carnival. 
The parking lot of Adat Shalom was 
transformed into a fairground for an 
afternoon of fun where attendees could 
ride a 40-foot Ferris wheel, play a variety 
of games in the midway and win prizes, 
enjoy rides on a trackless train, get 
airbrush tattoos, jump in bounce houses 
and more. 
The carnival, which was the final 
event of the summer-long Ellen Labes 
Festival Series sponsored by the Ellen 
Labes Family, was free to all individuals 
with developmental disabilities and/or 
sensory sensitivities and their caregivers, 
and their families were welcomed to join 
for a small admission donation of which 
the proceeds benefit the creation of more 
activities and events for the people JARC 
serves. 
Hundreds of attendees included people 

served by JARC, individuals from several 
other group homes and organizations, 
adults and children with and without 
disabilities, caregivers and families. 

“The idea for a sensory-friendly, 
accessible carnival came to be based on 
a conversation we had with a person 
JARC serves who expressed to us how 
much they loved the Michigan State Fair, 
but how hard it was for them to attend,
” 

shared Shaindle Braunstein, JARC CEO. 
“Our team had a discussion to review 
all the elements that make attending 
a carnival difficult as a person with a 
developmental disability or sensory 
sensitivity and came up with the idea to 
host our own carnival. We put months of 
planning into the event, ensuring that we 
made it as accessible to many people with 
developmental disabilities and/or sensory 
sensitivities as possible by providing 
many needed accommodations.
”
The event was JARC’s largest 
community event held in decades and 
was highly successful for the organization 
whose mission is to enrich the lives 
of individuals with developmental 
disabilities. 

To learn more about JARC or to make a donation, 

visit jarc.org.

Hundreds Attend 
Accessible Carnival 
Hosted by JARC

Dan smiles as he takes in all the fun around him.

Volunteers Mania and Mark Glazier serve free 
popcorn.

Mushky Dubov and her kids pet a therapy dog.
Jason and his caregiver enjoy a ride.
Laura Sherman, Robyn Roberts and Jimmy Sherman

Jodie and Josh Jacobs cheer on their daughter Allie.

