B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Shota The Nisan 5746, April 1986 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) Reaching Out to the Handicapped Jew By Sara Milner ture, where such a background help "K'lal Yisrael" All of Israel is one big in college application and acceptance, people. All Jewish people need to feel and also in seeking work. These are more that they are part of their community. long-term rewards. What makes it worth- That includes Jews who are disabled. It is while now? up to each of us to do his or her part to There are many disabled people who make this possible. can benefit from various kinds of assist- Ten percent of the general population ance. When a learning disabled boy is has some handicapping condition. That preparing for his Bar-Mitzvah, he may is true in the Jewish community as well, need to work much longer and harder without regard to economic status. What than the average child to learn his relevance does this have for Jewish teens prayers and portions. A teen-aged volun- today? teer can assist in the process, by practic- Consider Leah as she enters the room ing with the child on a regular basis. By with her familiar uneven gait, wearing a helping the boy prepare so that he can smile that lights the whole room. (Leah's successfully participate in the ceremony, name as well as the names of other the volunteer gains tremendous reward youths appearing in this article have from having helped the Bar-Mitzvah been changed to ensure confidentiality.) reach this milestone in Jewish life. The She starts to hug Jan in greeting, but Jan volunteer may feel great pride and a stops her. saying, "You don't need to hug. sense of accomplishment, because he You're 19 years old. Let's shake hands and played a vital role, with very visible and say 'Hi.' They then greet each other Sara Milner, seated at right, poses for a group photo with participants from a meaningful results. again and Leah happily goes on to greet special needs adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony. In a summer camp program, Joey used other friends in a similar manner Leah is a walker or cane to get around, because a mentally retarded member of the a theater while watching an Israeli folk- people, and making available special as- his legs were disabled by cerebral palsy. Friendship Club, a weekly Sunday activity dancing performance. Jan feels great sistive hearing devices for hearing im- The only way he could participate along social club for moderately and mildly pleasure in working with handicapped paired people in auditoriums. Making with his relatives, friends and neighbors retarded young adults sponsored by the teens and young adults. Why would she recordings of books and other written in a Jewish setting, was to have someone a Jewish Community Center of Greater want to get involved in this kind of volun- material for blind individuals is also part assist him. A teen volunteer, Eli, met Joey Washington. teer work? of the effort. at the bus each morning when he arrived r- Jan is a 17-year old volunteer who is a The trend in communities across the These accommodations and more have at camp. He helped him get set with his member of a chapter of B'nai B'rith Girls. nation is to maintain mentally retarded, benefitted members of the Jewish com- walker and remained with his group e She works as a volunteer aide with the autistic, learning disabled and emo- munity, enabling them to live more inde- throughout the day. When it was time to o Friendship Club on Sunday afternoons. tionally disturbed children and adults in pendently in the mainstream of Jewish go from one side of the camp all the way r. She assists group members like Leah in their own communities, rather than send life. This consideration has made places over to the other, he assisted Joey into a behaving in an age-appropriate fashion, them to institutions or residential and programs physically accessible, but wheelchair and included other campers and in participating in activities. Some- schools away from home. At the same it is up to people to make things "at- in pushing him along. Thus, he could ar- times this means teaching a mentally time, an attempt is being made to make titudinally" accessible. rive there along with the rest of the handicapped teenager how to hold a buildings, programs and services more In this area, everyone plays an impor- group, rather than straggling in late for bowling ball. At another time she helps accessible for people with physical and tant role. Jan has learned a great deal the activity. Once at the activity, for exam- an autistic young man handle a knife sensory disabilities. That includes in- about a variety of disabilities, how to ple, sports, he would help Joey stand while cutting apples to make charoset for stalling automatic doors, assigning spe- handle inappropriate behavior and how with his tripod canes, so that he could Pesach. Also, she may need to remind an- cific parking and providing appropriate to adapt an activity to allow for special have maximum mobility. Also, Eli would other 16-year old girl that excessive gig- restroom facilities. It also means provid- needs. This experience will prove very help the sports specialist modify the ,gling and loud talking disturbs others in ing sign-language interpreters for deaf valuable to her both in her academic fu- Continued on Page 9 An Inside Look at Atlanta's Shalom BBYO Sponsors Chapters for BBYO Developmentally Disabled Teens Shalom BBYO, Southern Region's only were nine members, and their ages Over the course of the years, BBYO has BBYO #5075 in Florida Region; Shalom educable mentally retarded chapter, was ranged from 13-16. During the same year, begun to fill a void for Jewish, develop- BBYO 5063 in Northern Region East; founded in 1978 as a project of the Atlanta Terri's efforts were recognized by the At- mentally disabled teenagers through the Shalom BBYO #5058 in Southern Region; Lodge of B'nai B'rith Men. lanta Association for Retarded Citizens, formation of special groups to address and Yedidim BBYO BBYO #5127 in Chi- At its inception the chapter had a mem- who presented her with the Mary Lee their needs. To date there are four such cago Region. bership of ten, ranging in ages from 13 to Brookshire Award for her volunteer work BBYO chapters. They are: Chaverim 20. Under the guidance of their advisor with the handicapped. Terri Wolkow, they began meeting every Shalom's success has been a family af- other Sunday. Soon their list of activities fair for Terri, whose husband has served included visits to a home for the elderly, as chaperone for the chapter on various socializing at the circus, and "testing the occasions and whose three children have waters" at swimming parties. attended many of the chapter programs. Over the years they have taken part in Says Terri, 'Not only did my children cultural, Judaic, recreational, and become comfortable with the members fundraising programs and have even held of Shalom, but they grew to be very close a joint bowling venture with their spon- with many of them as well. My 14-year old soring B'nai B'rith lodge. daughter Jana has learned how to appre- As time went on additional members ciate life more and to live each day to its were able to reap the benefits of Shalom's fullest." wide array of programs. Then in 1984, all Terri's involvement with Shalom BBYO the members who had reached their late has been truly rewarding for her. She Terri Wolkow, fifth from left, displays the Mary Lee Brookshire Award presented 20's were inducted as life members of the states, "Throughout all the years I have to her for her volunteer service to the handicapped. At her right is Robyn Berger, chapter. They received life membership been their advisor. I have continued to a member of the Atlanta BBYO Board of Directors and the Board of Directors for certificates during a candle-lit ceremony derive satisfaction and joy from their ex- the Atlanta Association for Retarded Citizens, the agency that presented the at a banquet sponsored by their parents. citement when we meet. These children award. Also pictured are members of Shalom BBYO at the time. Shown from left In 1985, Terri Wolkow, determined as have been an important part of my life." are: Jill Kuniansky, Susie Auzeradel, Sidney Nehaus, Isaac Benator, Terri ever, formed a new group. This time there Wolkow, Robyn Berger, Glen Freidman, Nancy Berger, and Ina Konstankonovsky.