Blog - Page 13 of 20

An Interview with Cleveland Yachad's Sara Cooperman

By Grace Berman Sara Cooperman is one of Yachad’s most inspirational staff members. She effortlessly juggles a full-time job, busy family life, and co-coordinating Yachad’s Cleveland chapter among many other endeavors. Her boundless energy and enthusiasm are key to the success of her chapter. Cleveland chapter supervisor Benjy Leibowitz describes Sara as, “Fun, creative, hard-working, […]

A Place of His Own

When Avi Polin became the proud renter of his own apartment in Staten Island this past December, it was the first time the Jewish Union Foundation assisted with a single living space subsidized by New York State’s Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). The Monsey native had moved to Staten Island to live with […]

Traditional Services vs Self-Direction: Choosing One, the Other...or Both?

By Batya Rosner We are very lucky to be living in a time when there are so many services and programs available for those with special needs. Sometimes it can be difficult to decide which are best for an individual. Meet David. David is eligible for a range of services from New York State’s Office […]

Reconnecting and Moving Forward

Many of us look back on our teen and college years fondly; we remember our friends and our activities with pride and Yachad has been a big part of so many of those fond, youthful memories. Since its inception in 1983, Yachad has brought together thousands of people in hundreds of communities throughout the United […]

Yachad 30th Anniversary Dinner, by Gwen Bloom

More than thirty years ago there was no Yachad. The idea of inclusion was not even on people’s minds since many had never met a person with developmental disabilities. Individuals with special needs were kept “out of sight” and consequently they truly were “out of mind.” The picture is so different today. Now, we see […]

Hard Work & A Helping Hand: Bezalel Kosofsky's Journey

By Gwen Bloom When asked if he would like to participate in an article for Belong magazine about his career path, Bezalel Kosofsky, a 32-year-old Yachad member emailed this note with great pride. “Since 2006, I have worked at Chestnut Holdings of New York, a real estate agency in Riverdale. At Chestnut Holdings, I am […]

Ariella Barker: A Lioness of God - No Matter What

By Bayla Sheva Brenner At the age of three, Ariella Barker was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disorder marked by advanced muscle weakening and loss. Despite predictions that she wouldn’t be able to walk, SMA was no match for Ariella’s stalwart spirit. She walked, up until the age of eleven. And even then, […]

An Unexpected Celebration, by Batya Rosner

The moment arrived to call Josh Kadysiewicz to recite the blessings before the Torah as a bar mitzvah. At 26, the long awaited and eagerly welcomed opportunity was particularly moving as Josh found himself in Israel’s holy city of Tzfat surrounded by hometown pals and new friends on his Taglit-Birthright Israel: Israel Free Spirit Yachad […]

An Adventurous Life or a Meaningful Life, by Michael Silverman

Watching the film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (2014), I was a bit disappointed to find no moral at the end — or was there a moral? Mitty is an average guy who has a boring life, a boring job, and a bad habit of daydreaming about imaginary adventures (that constantly get him into […]

Yad B'Yad: Inclusion & Friendship Know No Borders

By Batya Rosner Some of life’s most important moments occur when you take someone’s hand and begin your journey together. Many toddlers take their first steps hand in hand with a parent. Newlyweds start their lives together, literally or figuratively, hand in hand. Hebrew for hand in hand, Yad B’Yad (YBY) is one of Yachad’s […]