LOCAL VISUALLY IMPAIRED MUSICIAN REUNITES WITH CHILDHOOD FRIEND Duo performs at holiday concert in Bergen County Elizabeth, NJ – January 2, 2014 – They met at camp in 1963, two visually impaired 15-year-olds with musical talent. They have been making beautiful music together ever since.

Most recently Joseph Stokes, a member of Community Access Unlimited (CAU) living in Roselle, and Charlotte Poole, a resident at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, reunited to perform at the annual holiday concert at Poole’s residence. They were the only participants with visual impairments and received a standing ovation for their performance.

CAU provides support programs and services to people with disabilities and youth served under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to enable them to live independently in the community, in areas including housing, vocational and life-skills training, education, advocacy and recreation. The Jewish Home at Rockleigh is a skilled nursing facility.

Stokes, who also is a person with cognitive disabilities, has been playing instruments since he was 4 and this holiday season entertained his fellow CAU members with Christmas music.

“Joseph enjoys sharing his musical talents with all people,” said Glinda Jones, the assistant director where Stokes resides. “When the members hear him play they are all astonished and amazed. It’s as if he feels the music and that is why his talent leaves an indelible mark on everyone who hears him play.”

“I always had the talent,” Stokes said. “I’ve been playing for 60 years, my whole life.”

He plays piano, keyboard, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trombone and bagpipes.

Stokes met Poole at Camp Marcella, a residential summer campground for children and teens with blindness, visual impairments and special needs operated by the New Jersey Camp for Blind Children.

“We became friends but lost touch,” Poole said. “Then we reunited in 1967. We had a manager and we played for colleges and restaurants and coffee houses. We’ve been all over.”

Michael Shapiro, long-time friend of both Stokes and Poole, served as their manager and continues to facilitate their reunions. The duo, called Heart’s Content, also played at nursing homes and hospitals and “used to practice on the phone,” he said.

After a second gap Stokes and Poole reunited again 13 years ago and have been periodically getting together to play ever since. At the recent holiday concert Poole sang an original song she wrote about the death of her mother, “Our Last Goodbye,” accompanied by Stokes on a baby grand piano.

While Stokes and Poole are no strangers to playing before an audience, this performance was a very important for him because he was reuniting with Poole once again.

“It made me a little bit nervous but also proud,” he said.

Stokes’ ability to both perform and share his music with his fellow members at Community Access as well as to pursue his passion of playing with Poole is made possible in large part due to the community living CAU enables all its members, according to Sid Blanchard, executive director of the agency.

“The continuum of care we provide our members, from housing and life-skills training to recreation and vocation, allows them to live very fulfilling lives,” he said. “They have the support they need to live safely within the community and the freedom to pursue their passions, such as Joseph traveling to participate in a holiday concert with his long-time friend and musical partner.

“That complete menu of support is the advantage we provide our members which they can’t find elsewhere. It’s what we call the CAU Advantage.”

About CAU Community Access Unlimited (CAU), celebrating its 35th anniversary, supports people with special needs in achieving real lives in the community. CAU provides support and gives a voice to adults and youth who traditionally have little support and no voice in society. CAU helps people with housing, life skills, employment, money management, socialization and civic activities. CAU also supports opportunities for advocacy through training in assertiveness, decision-making and civil rights. CAU serves more than 5,000 individuals each year. For more information about CAU and its services, contact us by phone at 908.354.3040, online at www.caunj.org or by mail at 80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202.

Joseph Stokes accompanies Charlotte Pool on the piano as Poole sings an original song at the annual holiday show at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh. Both are blind.