May 24, 1998

Six foot and wearing a purple sweatsuit with a matching sweatband, Eytan Chill seems like any 22-year-old who likes to play basketball. But unlike most young adults, Chill is developmentally disabled.

An irrepressible sports lover, Chill will be among a group of 200 developmentally disabled and non-disabled athletes who will receive trophies for outstanding athletic participation and performance at Yachad’s Annual Good Sports Grand Finale, Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., at the Edward R. Murrow High School, 1600 Avenue L in Brooklyn.

Following an award ceremony, handicapped and non-handicapped players will spend the afternoon alternating between games of hockey, basketball, volleyball, bowling, aerobics and other sports.

"While the Special Olympics offer the disabled an opportunity for athletic development, it’s a self-contained program. Good Sports is the only program that unites the disabled and the non-disabled, giving them equal opportunity on the court and leveling the playing field," said Dr. Jeff Lichtman, Director of the National Jewish Council for the Disabled (NJCD).

Launched in 1992, the monthly athletic program draws Jewish players with developmental disabilities ages (9-35) and mainstream athletes from public and private schools throughout the NY metropolitan region. Disabled players are grouped according to age, level of disability and skill. The program is led by highly trained physical education instructors specializing in adaptive recreation.

"The developmentally disabled are cognitively challenged but they are not necessarily physically challenged," said Dr. Lichtman. "But the program is not only beneficial for the disabled population. Teens whose interests would ordinarily be confined to clothes and music are inculcated with patience, sensitivity, humility and compassion while learning that life is sometimes less than perfect."

With over 30 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, the NJCD, sponsored by the Orthodox Union, is the only national resource center providing state-of-the-art programs, information, guidance and referral services for those with special needs in the Jewish community. Yachad, a division of the NJCD, provides a unique range of social, recreational and religious interactive activities, serving the needs of nearly 1,000 developmentally disabled children and adults.

All Yachad programs are mainstreamed, bringing individuals with developmental disabilities together with their non-handicapped peers, and serving the entire spectrum of the Jewish community.

The Orthodox Union, celebrating 100 years of service to the Jewish community of the United States and countries throughout the world, is a world leader in youth work, advocacy for the disabled, synagogue services, adult education and political action. Its kosher supervision label, the OU, is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 200,000 products in 56 countries around the globe.

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