People with Disabilities & Their Families

The Wakschlags are a Jewish family full of love, compassion, and strength. Milt, a retired attorney and ordained rabbi, and Laurie, a professor and vice chair at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern University, live in Lincolnwood and have three adult children. Tmima (Mims) and Efraim (Fry) both have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Their daughter Shira and her husband, Eli Rosenblatt, have two daughters, Maerav and Bella. Bella is on the autism spectrum. 

What started as a fun activity to enjoy together has evolved into a full-blown hobby for Hart. Through pottery, he has also gained more confidence and independence. 

Residents of the integrated community living homes supported by JCFS Chicago are brushing up on their hygiene practices with guidance from JCFS Occupational Therapist Jamie Norris. Jamie has been meeting with residents from each home separately for three sessions, tailoring the lessons to the needs of each group.

One of the janitors who is employed through JCFS Chicago’s Contracted Employment Services (CES) accompanied CES Assistant Director Virginia Hopkins to SourceAmerica’s annual Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C... where he first shared his employment story with a group of fellow advocacy teams, and later presented a shorter version to legislators.

For Mitch, a recent move from Lincolnwood to Skokie wasn’t just a change in address, it was a step toward greater independence, responsibility and connection. Moving out of his parents’ home marked a major milestone for Mitch, as he also became the 30th resident to join a JCFS-supported integrated community living home.

Residents of the integrated community living homes supported by JCFS have benefited from some four-legged visitors in recent weeks.

It’s Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), a time for Jewish organizations to join forces to raise awareness and promote acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities. JCFS Chicago is coming together with partner agencies to better support people with intellectual/development disabilities (I/DD).

At JCFS Chicago, we offer services and programs throughout the year that provide people with disabilities, their families and caregivers the support they need to be accepted and included in all aspects of Jewish and community life. One recipient of our inclusive services is Jacob*, who recently moved into one of the integrated community living homes supported by JCFS.

For two weeks in May, residents of the adult living homes supported by JCFS Chicago monitored how much they were moving as they participated in Put a Step in Your Spring, a new exercise project conceived by nurse Janis Goodman to teach the residents about exercise and healthy lifestyles.