26th Annual Yachad Family Shabbaton!

Yachad's Family Shabbaton has been a flagship event every year for the last 26 years.

This incredible and inspirational program is schduled for May 4-6, 2012, will be held at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa in Kerhonkson, NY.

Our much anticipated annual Family Shabbaton is a yearly highlight. This weekend retreat will allow parents, siblings, and individuals with developmental disabilities alike to join for a weekend of fun, games, learning, sharing and togetherness. Parents attend sessions which provide up-to-date information on the disability world, problem solving strategies, and the opportunity to share experiences. Siblings enjoy workshops unique to their needs, while participants with developmental disabilities have sessions, games, and activities of their own, similar to our famous "Yachad Shabbatons." Mealtimes are special, with singing, "talks" by the Yachad members, and families basking in the glow of their children's pleasure and success.

For more information or questions about this wonderful event, please contact Chani Herrmann, at herrmann@ou.org.

Fees include 2 nights in the hotel, meals from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning and a weekend that you will never forget:
Adults (12+) - $245
Teens (7-11) - $125
Children (3-6) - $75
Infants (0-3) - FREE

As always, Yachad is committed to working with families in order to allow as many families to attend as possible. Subsidies available upon request.

Yachad Family Shabbaton invades the Midwest!

Yachad's Family Shabbaton has been a flagship event every year for the last 26 years.

In March 2012, thanks to the partnership with the Hartman Family Fund, Yachad/The National Jewish Council for Disabilities is proud to announce that a Family Shabbaton is being planned for March 16-18, 2012 at the Renaissance North Shore Hotel in Northbrook, Illinois.

Our much anticipated annual Family Shabbaton is a yearly highlight. This weekend retreat will allow parents, siblings, and individuals with developmental disabilities alike to join for a weekend of fun, games, learning, sharing and togetherness. Parents attend sessions which provide up-to-date information on the disability world, problem solving strategies, and the opportunity to share experiences. Siblings enjoy workshops unique to their needs, while participants with developmental disabilities have sessions, games, and activities of their own, similar to a famous "Yachad Shabbaton." Mealtimes are special, with singing, "talks" by the Yachad members, and families basking in the glow of their children's pleasure and success.

For more information about this wonderful event, please contact Zahava Gutstein, at midwestfamilyshabbaton@gmail.com

All fees include 2 nights in the hotel, all meals from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning:
Adults (19+) - $195
Teens (12-18) - $125
Children (6-11) - $75
Infants (0-5) - FREE

As always, Yachad is committed to working with families in order to allow as many families to attend as possible. Scholarships available upon request.

To download an application: 2012_Midwest_Family_Shabbaton_Application.pdf
Completed applications should be mailed to: Zahava Gutstein 7029 N. Kenton Lincolnwood, IL 60712
or scanned and email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Our Way for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

image

image Our Way offers opportunities to participate in the member’s local Jewish community by offering signed interpretation for synagogue services, interpreted classes, and a Megillat Esther Power Point Presentation for Purim. To download Perek 3 of the Migilat Ester PowerPoint Presentation click here.

Our Way offers a Torah by email program weekly. The weekly Torah reading is discussed and a calendar of upcoming events is included. Please email us if you would like to be added to the recipients of this service at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Our Way works closely with Jewish schools offering seminars, educational materials, and ongoing consultation to help schools include deaf and hard of hearing students into their educational programs. The Association of Jewish Deaf Parents provides information, guidance and support services for families through seminars, workshops and newsletters. As deaf young adults prepare to enter the workforce, Our Way offers a network of support services, such as computer classes in ASL, job placement, and job coaching in order to maximize their chances for long-term success.

Our Way offers ASL interpreted trips to Israel so that the deaf and hard of hearing members can connect with their Jewish roots and learn about our heritage hands on while exploring the State of Israel.

The Jewish Deaf Singles Registry

JDSR was established in response to the growing assimilation rate in the Jewish deaf community. The registry provides a unique opportunity for Jewish singles to meet one another, a service not otherwise available to this community. Through JDSR, deaf and hard of hearing singles have the opportunity to meet and correspond with each other, with the goal of matrimony in mind.


For more information about Our Way or the Jewish Deaf Singles Registry, please contact Rabbi Eliezer Liederfeind, Batya Jacob or Moshe Lehmann.

Social Skills Training & Relationship Building

The Relationship Building Course (RBC) includes topics such as listening, initiating and continuing conversations, decision making, exercising self-control when angry, understanding our bodies, developing good hygiene, and recognizing and dealing with unsafe situations. These are just a few of the topics covered in the course and as the participants learn new skills, we continue to review the ones completed previously and build upon them.

RBC uses the Circles Program as a guide for teaching individuals to distinguish between various types of relationships. This curriculum allows an individual to decide who is a close friend or family member, who is simply an acquaintance, who to share personal information with, who we can appropriately touch and who we can trust.

Each week practice sheets are sent home with assignments to be completed for the next class. This is done in order to emphasize the importance of working on social skills at times and in various settings. We firmly believe that while we can introduce certain principles, the most important work takes place at home.

Each semester meets once weekly for 10 weeks and is taught by trained individuals ranging from graduate students in related fields to professional social workers and psychologists.

There is a Fall and a Spring session of RBC in New York and New Jersey, largely based on the academic calendar.

Price:$190 for one semester
$360 if you sign up for two semesters
Current locations: Brooklyn (2 groups), Queens, Teaneck, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Upcoming Session