The Friendship Circle reaches out and extends a helping hand to families who have children with special needs and involves them in a full range of Jewish experiences. The Friendship Circle offers these children regular opportunities to play and socialize while affording their parents some much needed respite. Every week pairs of specially trained teenage volunteers visit children at their homes, offering friendship and interactive play.

Holiday programs, geared exclusively to families with special needs children, allow the entire family to celebrate together in a comfortable setting. Volunteers are on hand to help cater the event to the particular needs of the children.

JFVS provides services to individuals with special needs. Supported Employment Services assists individuals with disabilities to access employment opportunities with the necessary supports to transition successfully into the workforce. JFVS is a vendor for the NJ Division of Rehabilitation and the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities. School-to-Work transition services are provided to students in special education. Services include career exploration, job search assistance, job placement, job coaching, and long-term follow-along.

Disability awareness and sensitivity training is provided to employers, community-based organizations and agencies that do not traditionally provide services to people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are connected to these agencies and programs to receive integrated and inclusive services.

JFVS provides services to individuals with special needs. Supported Employment Services assists individuals with disabilities to access employment opportunities with the necessary supports to transition successfully into the workforce. JFVS is a vendor for the NJ Division of Rehabilitation and the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities. School-to-Work transition services are provided to students in special education. Services include career exploration, job search assistance, job placement, job coaching, and long-term follow-along.

Disability awareness and sensitivity training is provided to employers, community-based organizations and agencies that do not traditionally provide services to people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are connected to these agencies and programs to receive integrated and inclusive services.

JSDD is dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Services include residential, community education, and advocacy programs.

JSDD’s WAE (Wellness, Arts & Enrichment) Center provides continuing education opportunities to individuals 16+ with disabilities and includes painting, poetry, yoga, Pilates, theatre arts, and much more.

The committee provides Shabbat and holiday programs with Jewish content for residents of the MetroWest group homes and residents of nonsectarian group homes, as well as individuals living in the community. The committee coordinates and supervises a monthly Shabbat religious service for children (Shabatteinu) and adults with developmental disabilities (Minyan Meyuchad). The programs are available to Jewish young adults and adults.

The committee also coordinates an extended Shabbat program once a month.

The committee is an active participant in ABLE.

MetroWest ABLE is the community’s network of professionals and community leaders that serve and advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families.

MetroWest ABLE makes connections between families, agencies, and synagogues to help families access the services they desire.

The community coordinator is available to provide information about programs supporting individuals with special needs, family education workshops, mentoring, resource materials for educators and family members.

The vision of MetroWest ABLE is a community that is made whole and complete by the inclusion of all of its members.

MetroWest ABLE is funded from the UJA Campaign and grants from the Linda Bunis Haller Foundation and The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.

Round Lake Camp, near Lake Como, Pa., is for children with ADD, Asperger Syndrome, and/or learning disabilities. Each activity and staff member supports the campers 24 hours a day. Boys and girls, ages seven to 18, who have been identified by their child study team, are eligible.

Activities include arts and crafts, science, pioneering, creative movement, drama, music, nature, horseback riding, computers, and BMX and mountain biking. The camp provides individualized academic experiences that focus on the needs of each camper, including reading, language development, and mathematical skills. Where identified by the camper’s IEP, speech and language support and occupational therapy are also available.

Recreational programming includes athletic activities and recreational and instructional swimming. The camp’s program includes a broad variety of special events, Jewish cultural activities, and creative learning. Cabin meetings and directed socialization activities concentrate on personal growth and positive peer interaction. Jewish dietary laws are observed.