[VIDEO of Y.C. Bloch and Shua Kessin] For Yehuda, the hardest part is knowing his only son will never join him in shul. For Shaina it’s staying home with her children while everyone else attends Chanukah parties and Purim masquerades. It’s the loneliness that eats at Dovi’s soul; he feels no one can understand the unique challenges in raising his special daughter.
A Parent Speaks stepped into the void.
Drawing from personal experience in raising his own autistic son Ari, founder Chaim Spero reached out to other parents in similar situations, creating a community of families that spans the Jewish world in America, Canada, England, France and Israel. A network of support joins together parents with special children. Instead of wrestling with their unique challenges alone, they provide and receive emotional and spiritual support from those who understand them best; other parents. Supplementing the support groups, the organizations chizuk hotline provides 24/6 help and guidance, logging over 7000 calls in just fifteen months.
Thirty-five full time volunteers bring joy and hope to the 600 families involved on a regular basis, and the 1500 special children entertained at community events over the past year. Educational programs raise community consciousness in sharing the responsibility of raising our special children.
In its short existence, this unique organization has touched the lives of hundreds of families, in immeasurable and meaningful ways. Future plans of expansion include after-school programs, parent retreats, day camps and community educational retreats. Parents like Yehuda, Shaina, and Dovi are finding joy and love in their children once again. And as an organization that relies entirely on private donations, they can continue on their journey with your generous support and help.
All are cordially invited to attend a special parlor meeting for A Parent Speaks, Thursday October 21st at 8:00 pm at the home of Mr. and Mrs.Mordechai Kliger, 6 Chelsea Ct, Hosted By:
Mordechai Kliger & Chesky Schneider.
Special guest speaker will be Harav Dovid Goldwasser.
Parlor Meeting Committee: Yanky Cohen, Louie Follman, Danny Goodman, JJ Hutman, Avrohom Jaffe,
Yaakov Klein, Mordechai Kliger, Shmuel Mandelbaum, Sruli Rothstein, Chesky Schneider, Yosef Spero and Menachem Boruch Zucker.
Video of Yosef Chaim Bloch and Shua Kessin singing at their recent Sukkos event.
why cant these children go to shul or purim masquraudes or chankuee parties???
low functioning autistic children tend to have “meltdowns” , and some are almust totally unfuctional. ( if left untreated )
i just would like to make one point . i dont mean to be critical of all the well meaning people invloved , and they deserve our support. i just think that they may be slightly misguided or uninformed when it comes to autism ( and this group is supposed to be giving guidance!!). Today between the main two therapy methods for autism knowns as ABA and DIR – over 90% of all autistic children end up being totally funtional ( although they may be rigid , corky or have some social problems) and the descriptions of the children of Yehuda, Shaina, and Dovi are very rare for those cases that are caught on time and properly treated . the problem is that in many places and ecspecially in lakewood treatmeant is rare for two reasons.
1. while the district takes care of many special ed issues for some reason autism is getting left out in the cold. ( i dont know anyone who is getting a proper 10-30 hours a week ABA program like they get in NY)
2. there is a stigma attached with autism and many parents are afraid to let it get out.
therefore if you really want to help support autism and you want to help people like Yehuda, Shaina, and Dovi . dont wait until after they crash and burn and are left with unfuntioning children. help support groups for parents of ASD children while the children are in the 2-7 or maybe 2-9 age range that they should get the knowledge they need to fight and treat autism and help support autism advocacy against school districts and insurance companies who are failing to treat the children and give them the chance they deserve. they are usually to ashamed or two overwhelmed to stand up for their rights and can use a lot of help.
the name seems to be a play the the biggest autism supposrt group in the world “autsm speaks”. and if this is going to be the jewish autism speak they should do what autism speaks does. – awarness,advocacy, treatment. that the only way to stop autism from becaoming a full blown epidemic and the only way of truly solving the problems of Yehuda, Shaina, and Dovi.
if any of the committee members or organizers would like to answer this it would be most appreciated.