Offering Respite for Families
Sunday afternoons are now more fun for young people with disabilities because of a new program from JF&CS. The Sunday Respite Program offers individuals with severe neurological issues a chance to gather for an afternoon of swimming, music, and art while their families enjoy some downtime.
The program offers a unique way for participants to enjoy a safe, structured activity on a day when many of them might otherwise be home watching TV. In addition to physical activity, the program is fun and helps defray the social isolation these children feel.
Doreen Cummings, Director of Individual Living and Working Supports at JF&CS, said, “We’re excited to be running a program like this in our community. These children are very compromised and many programs are expensive or far from home. This brings people together in their neighborhood. We know they are happy and excited to be there.”
Since the program began at the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center in Newton last summer, 18 families have enrolled.
Irene and Gary Gladstone of Needham and their daughter, Erika, age 29, were one of the families in the pilot. Erika, who is nonverbal and has limited mobility, was the first person diagnosed with Rett Syndrome in this country.
“It is unusual to find a program for people like my daughter who need someone with them one-on-one all the time,” Irene said, adding, “My husband and I don’t have much time without her. I like this program because Erika seems happy and I can tell she enjoys it.”
Linda and Mark Goldman and their daughter, Jessica, age 28, are friends of the Gladstones and have known each other since their daughters’ diagnoses more than 25 years ago. Linda said, “Now Jess has something on weekends that is hers. It gets her out of the house and it’s stimulating.”
Linda explained that for Mark and her to have three hours together on a Sunday afternoon is a gift. Recently the couple went on a hike in the woods close to their home where they had never been because they could not go with Jessica.
She said, “It’s good for our relationship to have this time together, and the program is wonderful for Jessica.”
This program is presented under the umbrella of Family Circle, a resource and support center for families who care for children with special needs at home, which is managed by JF&CS with financial support from the Help A Little One Foundation.
In a nice connection, the respite program employs three residents with disabilities from the JF&CS Community Housing for Adult Independence program. “It’s fantastic to see someone with a mild disability showing up for work every Sunday and swimming in the pool with a peer who has a severe disability,” said Doreen.
Since the participants are physically compromised and mostly nonverbal, the success of the drop-off program depends on a staff committed to safety. Both mothers praised co-coordinator Pat Ludwig, the hands-on manager and assistant director of Individual Living and Work Supports, for the caliber of the staff. Linda said, “Pat has worked really hard and they’ve hired great people.”
Both mothers feel that the continuity over many Sundays is one of the program’s strengths. Linda said, “I can drop Jess off and feel comfortable the staff knows how to take care of her.” She added, “It’s been good for me to let go a little bit and see that she would be fine. It’s been a valuable experience for all of us.”
Respite activities take place at the Leventhal- Sidman Jewish Community Center in Newton from 1 to 4 p.m. Reservations are required and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a nominal fee of $30 for each session.