Harry Klein

This past month, I had the privilege of addressing the members of Congregation Agudath Israel during their celebration of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). The invitation arose from our connection with two active families from the WAE Center, who are also congregants of the synagogue, the Elmowitz and Solomon families. Aided by the invaluable support of congregant Ann Leeb and Susan Werk, we collectively decided that the topic of my address would be diversity and inclusion, specifically focusing on the distinction between “serving” and “helping.”

We’re excited to announce that the WAE Center will now offer Therapy Dog services twice a week for our members. Manu, an 8-year-old Samoyed, will visit on Mondays from 1:00 to 2:00 pm and Milo, a 6 ½-year-old mixed-terrier, will join us on Fridays during the same time. During their visits, these adorable companions will roam through our program, offering themselves for interaction with our members. Their presence aims to provide support and love without hindering anyone’s ongoing projects or classes.

As of Tuesday, 11/7/23 the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities is rescinding its temporary service modification regarding virtual classes. This means that DDD will no longer fund remote classes as of Tuesday, 11/7/23. This impacts all WAE members who are receiving DDD funding & are currently enrolled in virtual classes. If you are enrolled in fully virtual classes or hybrid virtual classes, this will impact you or your member. As an act of good faith & commitment to our beloved community JSDD will provide a grace period for all virtual classes between 11/7 & the rest of the year. This means members can attend class up until the end of December break without funding. We are actively investigating solutions to sustain this crucial […]

On 06/29/2023, we celebrated our extraordinary cadre of volunteers with a luncheon. It was a joyous occasion filled with warmth and camaraderie. The event provided a platform for our members to actively participate in creating a memorable experience for each volunteer. Members embraced their roles as greeters, servers, and bartenders, fostering an atmosphere of inclusion and unity. The luncheon provided a wonderful opportunity for everyone to meet and learn more about the work that each is doing here at the WAE Center, cultivating a sense of community that is at the core of our mission. These exceptional individuals have dedicated their time, energy, and hearts to supporting our community, and we are truly blessed to have them here. During the […]

In celebration of National “Take Your Child to Work Day 2023 (04/27/2023), JSDD staff invited their kids to join them for a day of learning and exploration at the WAE Center. 13 young people, between the ages of 8 and 19 participated in the day’s activities. The plan for the day is to give the children a better understanding of what it is that their parents do at their job each day. The day started with a group meeting and a discussion about the history of the WAE Center and its philosophy. The kids were split up into 4 different cohorts as they joined the members in their classes. Members and kids enjoyed sharing lessons in gardening, cooking, conversation group, […]