YACHAD ANNOUNCES MONTHLY SERIES DEDICATED TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION FOR WOMEN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS, TO BEGIN IN FEBRUARY
Yachad/the National Jewish Council for Disabilities (NJCD), today announces a multi-part seminar series beginning in February to educate Jewish women with developmental disabilities on important topics relative to their health. Each 90 minutes program, free of charge, will take place on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at Orthodox Union headquarters, 11 Broadway in Manhattan. The series is also open to parents and caregivers in order to fill a knowledge gap among Jewish women with a broad range of disabilities. Educational materials will be distributed.
The series has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society and Sharsheret.
Yachad/NJCD, an agency of the Orthodox Union, is dedicated to enhancing the opportunities of individuals with disabilities, promoting Inclusion and independence through various integrated activities and ensuring their participation in the full mainstream of Jewish life.
Sessions will include:
• February 25, 2013: Health and Wellness for Women with Disabilities
Marcia Bodenstein – CEO, StartFesh (personalized kosher online diet plan)
Topics will include importance of nutrition and exercise, specific nutritional concerns for people with disabilities, the benefits of mindfulness practices, and more.
• March 11, 2013: Women’s Cancers: Risk, Prevention, and Treatment
Dr. Erica Friedman – Soft Tissue Fellow at New York University School of Medicine
Topics will include importance of breast cancer screening and regular Pap testing, instructions on administering self-exams, the benefits of the Gardasil vaccination, and more.
This session has been endorsed by The American Cancer Society and Sharsheret (a national non-profit organization supporting young women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer.)
• April 8, 2013: “Your Child’s Changing Body”
Dr. Norman Ravski, M.D. – Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Anna Tirado, M.D. – Head of Gynecology, Gaylord Hospital
Jori Belkin – Professional Doula
Topics will include information for parents and caregivers on how to educate young women about their bodies, reproductive health, menstrual cycles, and more.
• April 29: Defining Healthy Relationships
Henna White – Community Liaison, Brooklyn District Attorney’s Officer
Batya Jacob – Director of the International Jewish Resource Center for Inclusion and Special Education
Topics will include relationship building; validating desires for intimacy; identifying inappropriate language and touch, to not be taken advantage of; and teaching how to speak up for yourself if put in a position not considered healthy.
Seminars will be wheelchair accessible and able to accommodate service animals. Sign language interpreters will be available.
The series was created by Batya Jacob, Director of the International Jewish Resource Center for Inclusion and Special Education (a division of NJCD), and Courtney Flint, social work graduate student at Columbia University and presently a social work intern at Yachad.
Batya Jacob stated, “While working with women with a range of developmental disabilities and other challenges, it has come to our attention that there is a gap in the information they receive about their own health and bodies. It is essential to educate them as to ways they can effectively become aware, in order to become more independent and informed. Yachad hopes that this series will be the beginning of a dialogue between our members and women in the community with disabilities, the medical professionals with whom they interact, and with their caretakers.”
To register, visit www.yachad.org/womenshealth. For further information, contact Batya Jacob at 212-613-8127 or {encode=”mailto:batyaj@ou.org” title=”batyaj@ou.org”}.
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