Special Needs Students “Turn the Tables” at Michael-Ann Russell JCC

June 29, 2009 - PRLog -- For the Teachers at the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center/Sanford L. Ziff Campus, 18900 NE 25th Avenue, North Miami Beach, FL the term “Special Needs” brings new meaning and enlightenment with the lessons learned from two extraordinary groups partially funded by United Way and The Children’s Trust.

The Ometz Summer Work experience is a program where participants, ages 15 and up, experience a hands-on learning environment designed to teach pre-vocational and daily living skills. Work and social skills are taught through discussions and coursework. Participants work closely with the camps at the MAR-JCC by assisting the coaches and instructors, and train at local businesses such as Publix, Old Navy, and Blockbuster.  Additionally, Social activities and field trips are incorporated to enhance their experience and help build friendships. Teens in this program have specific individual goals and work with a job coach. Hila Mizrahi, Special Needs Director for the program, says “Real world experiences such as these teach our students valuable life lessons by allowing them to create a regimen for themselves such as packing their own lunch, being to work on time, and being responsible for their degree of success.”  

The Koach Program is for students entering kindergarten and up to the 8th grade. It allows students with special needs to become a part of Camp Sol Taplin. Eligible campers participate in mainstream camp activities while being shadowed by a counselor. The amazing thing about this program, Hila says, is that “Students are integrated into the summer camp program and are able to participate in the many variety camps that are offered here. Campers participate in activities such as sports, swimming, gymnastics, cooking, and arts and crafts just to name a few.” Hila also remarked that “this program allows kids with special needs to experience the role of a typical camper through interaction with their peers. They feel like part of the group, and in turn, see themselves as a typical kid which is critical in their development towards learning tolerance, acceptance, and patience.”

Mizrahi went on to say, “I truly believe that we as teachers are the lucky ones, because we are learning just as much as they are. Both the Ometz Group and The Koach Group’s presence here turns the tables on us, because we are reminded everyday of these same lessons. By working with these students, all the traits that we as responsible adults strive to work on, are constantly being tested, ultimately creating situations where we are the students and they are our teachers and I feel blessed.”

The Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center is a not-for-profit social service agency located on the 17 acre Sanford L. Ziff Campus, and is a beneficiary agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the United Way of Miami-Dade, and is a member of the Jewish Community Center Association.  Limited financial assistance is available to deserving individuals and families to ensure that all segments of the community can avail itself of the programs and services that the MAR-JCC provides.To receive a program guide or for information, call Tanya Copernik, Membership Services Director, at 305-932-4200, ext. 173, or check the MAR-JCC website at www.marjcc.org.

# # #

The Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center/Sanford L. Ziff Campus is dedicated to the enrichment of Jewish life and fosters the spiritual, emotional, and physical development of its individual members through all of life’s stages and circumstances. The MAR-JCC represents a model of acceptance, understanding and diversity. As such, people look at the MAR-JCC as a center of excellence that epitomizes how shared Jewish values support a vibrant and evolving constituency. The MAR-JCC is a beneficiary agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the United Way of Miami-Dade County, and a member of the Jewish Community Center Association of North America.