August 26, 2004

Yachad Vocational Programs Offer Summer Work and Fun

Once again this year, Yachad has teamed up with Jewish sleep-away camps to offer its members, age 21 and above, opportunities to learn vocational skills in an inclusive Summer Camp Vocational Program. The program was pioneered in 2000 by Yachad and Camp Mesorah in Gilford, NY and has since added three other Jewish camps in Pennsylavania: Nesher and Morasha in Lake Como and Moshava in Honesdale.

“Yachad,” the flagship division of the Orthodox Union’s National Jewish Council for Disabilities (NJCD), provides unique social, educational and recreational programs for individuals with learning, developmental and physical disabilities. Like all other NJCD programs, a leading objective of the Summer Camp Vocational Program is to mainstream its members with the general camp population as much as possible, both to increase their skills and to prepare them for future interactions with the outside world.

In fact, for some Yachad members, this work experience may be their first and it enables them to apply for jobs in the future, while allowing them to point to prior work success. According to the NJCD, numerous Yachad members have successfully applied for jobs due to recommendations and experience they garnered from the Summer Camp Vocational Program.

Yachad members work in a variety of settings such as the kitchen, canteen, and office; and in activities such as art, drama, and sports. Typical jobs include sorting mail, making deliveries, stock work, filling soda machines, waiting and setting tables, filling salt shakers and ketchup bottles, making props for plays, or assisting with special projects in the arts room.

The campers responded warmly to the Yachad members and formed close bonds, as can be seen from a letter from the kitchen staff at Moshava to a Yachad member, Nava Gold of West Hempstead, NY, who was working with them. “Thank you so much for all your help this summer,” read the letter. “Your smile brought sunshine to our chadar ochel (lunchroom) everyday. We hope to see you again next summer. We will miss you.”

Although hard at work, Yachad members also participate in daily camp activities, including swimming, boating, sports, and learning. For example, Moshava provides a special chavruta-style (paired) learning program for Yachad members and mainstream staff.

NJCD provides support to each camp that runs the Summer Camp Vocational Program. Yachad members have a full-time, on-site specially trained job coach to assist them with their daily activities and to help them adjust to their roles at camp. Overseeing the job coaches and the Yachad members is a Summer Camp Vocational Program Supervisor. The supervisor works with department heads to help them set appropriate expectations for Yachad members.

“The goal is to help integrate the Yachad members so they don’t flounder alone,” explained Deborah Rockoff, Summer Vocational Programs Coordinator. “However, a lot of the hand-holding occurs in the beginning. It’s not long before Yachad members are settled into their routine and having a great work experience, while forming close friendships with their co-workers and campers.” NJCD also offers optional discussion groups and briefing sessions for staff as well as for campers to help facilitate positive interactions with their Yachad colleagues.

In addition to the benefits for Yachad members, campers have much to gain from learning about the Jewish community’s disabled population. “The Yachad Summer Camp Vocational Program ensures the future social and vocational success of these special adults while helping to build a stronger, more vibrant and more inclusive Jewish community,” declared Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, National Director of Yachad/NJCD. “This program is important for the self-esteem of the Yachad members and for the educational benefits it provides to the campers in helping to understand and to integrate Jews with developmental disabilities into the community.”

Nava Gold of West Hempstead, NY prepares the tables for dinner at Moshava


Yehuda Fernander serves food at a barbeque at Mesorah


Josh Greer (r) learns Torah with his chavruta (learning partner) at Moshava

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