Issue #7 Summer 2010

A Publication of Women’s League Community Residences, Inc. Summer 2010 Fun Time in the Summer Time enting a summer bun- galow in the Catskills is something of a tradition Rin our Brooklyn community. The mass exodus begins as soon as schools are out and extends for up to ten weeks, stretching through the city’s hot summer season. So why not do the same for the consumers of Women’s League? According to Steven Smulowitz, senior residence manager, “We’d been mulling this idea over for a long time. We felt that the fresh air and change of scenery would benefit our consumers. Fortunately, this past year I was able to locate a win- terized home that I believed would be wonderfully appropriate for our consumers’ diverse needs.” parlor. We en- The house had to be modified to meet the joyed a bumpy physical challenges of the consumers, as well as State safety hayride and some motor boating. And codes. Wheelchair access had to be created. Fences and safety we were entertained by both the Bal- equipment were installed. A blow-up pool, inflat- looner Rebbe and Morah Music.” able water toys and even a full-size camping But the best moments were un- tent for the backyard were purchased. And questionably the quiet moments – sit- when it was ready, excited groups from ting on the deck, preparing a barbecue, three separate residences took turns taking walks around the lake, splashing spending a week at a time in this in the blow-up pool, enjoying a Shab- rustic and scenic location. It did bos seudah together, and breathing in the fresh mountain air. wonders for them all! “It was the quintessential country experience,” says Steven. There were plenty of And even though most everyone in the groups had certain activities that the residents behavioral or physical limitations, it didn’t really seem to matter could enjoy. According much at all. Somehow, all those challenges took a back seat to to Nechie Katz, assistant the overwhelmingly pleasant experience of being surrounded manager, “We took day by grass and trees and the great big outdoors. “Each group was trips to a petting zoo and to able to enjoy its stay in the country,” Steven remembers, “just like Walmart. We visited the local pizza their friends and neighbors from back home in the city.” 2 inspiRations summeR 2010 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Women’s League Community ResidenCes ... a tRadition of CaRing, in ouR homes and youRs an editorial. He even in- cludes a Mazel Tov page and a Fun page.” Once the thirty- page magazine is successfully printed at a local copy center, Avrahom distributes some 100 copies to Women’s League residents, staff, community leaders and friends. Invariably, his readers are delighted with it. Avrahom’s efforts prompted New York State Assemblyman Dov Publishing a Magazine Hikind to write him a letter, praising his publication and encouraging him at Women’s League to keep up the good work. “Your divrei Torah,” writes the Assemblyman, “will hat’s interesting, inspiring, most certainly aid me as I reflect upon the important informative, intriguing and is themes of our times.” created exclusively at Women’s We at Women’s League are extremely proud WLeague? Give up? It’s an outstanding pub- of Avrahom and are looking forward to upcoming lication called “Aish” that is published, ed- issues of his wonderful publication. ited, coordinated, and largely written by one ambitious Women’s League consumer named Avrahom. Every page of every issue is carefully thought out. Even the title “Aish” holds great significance, being that it is an acronym for Avrahom’s full name. Publishing a magazine is no easy feat. There are so many tasks involved. But Avra- hom is a multi-talented resident of Women’s League and for him this is truly a labor of love. Over the past several years, he has managed to overcome his challenges and fulfill his life’s dream. At first, Women’s League staffers and friends helped him achieve his goals. But as time went on and the magazine gained in popularity as well as in content, Avrahom became more proficient and experi- enced. Today he is able to do most of the work by himself. According to Meir Heller, Avrahom’s supervisor at Wom- en’s League, “He is busy with Aish for weeks at a time. He does all the artwork and cal- ligraphy. He gathers the arti- cles and divrei Torah. Avrahom conducts interviews and writes • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Women’s League Community ResidenCes ... a tRadition of CaRing, in ouR homes and youRs 3 visit. In four days, they toured as many places as they could. By eight o’clock in the morning, they California, were out the door with sandwiches packed. They had a real goal to accomplish and they worked hard to achieve their goal.” Here We Come! All in all, eleven women from four Women’s League residences traveled together (yet separated into omen’s League in Dis- two groups for diversified neyland? San Diego? local trips). “The camara- L.A? Why not? The derie between the ladies,” Wladies of Women’s League knew says Esther, “was amazing. exactly where they wanted to go People responded to them on their next vacation, and so well. Even the it wasn’t the local park or stewardess on museum. They dreamed the airplane of visiting beautiful sunny said to me, ‘We southern California. And thought we were their dedicated staff made sure going to have a hard that nothing would stand in their way. time, but your ladies behaved beautifully It wasn’t easy. First of all, the trip would be during the entire flight.’” expensive. Also, there was lots of advance planning, Much of the credit is due to the tire- shopping, packing, and arranging that had to be less staff who accompanied the ladies on the trip. “We worked around the clock,” Esther remembers, “preparing meals and They dreamed of visiting beautiful medication, and working out the many details such as wheelchair accessibility at all sunny southern California. And the sites. Some of our ladies are medically their dedicated staff made sure that frail, but thank G-d we had no emergen- nothing would stand in their way. cies during our stay. The ladies looked so beautiful and so happy that it was completely done. But, according to Esther Silver, assistant man- worthwhile.” ager at the women’s residence, “It became a year- Best of all, the ladies felt good about long project. The ladies budgeted carefully. They themselves. They were on vacation with their planned for weeks, shopped for new outfits and friends, enjoying a tour of America. “Look at sneakers, purchased luggage, and arranged an itiner- us!” they said to each other. “Our dream of ary. They voted on which attractions they would so long has come true!” 4 Shabbos Table Photo: Danny Kaye Danny Photo: Table Shabbos Getting Ready for Shabbos 5 6 inspiRations summeR 2010 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Women’s League Community ResidenCes ... a tRadition of CaRing, in ouR homes and youRs Hydrotherapy’s Making a BIG SPLASH! hether it will be scorching hot boys, both physically and emotionally. “Boys this summer or snowing heavily who are autistic or are dealing with emo- Wnext winter won’t matter as much tional issues calm down when they are in the to the twelve teen boys who live at the water,” Chana explains. “Those with tight- Women’s League residence on E.7th Street ened muscles are able to relax. We have in Brooklyn. You see, these boys with boys who require sensory input and are developmental disabilities and various totally transformed by feeling the motion emotional or medical issues have a state- in the water. And the actual exercise, no of-the-art hydrotherapy pool in their matter what level the child is functioning on, basement. And their favorite activity is helps achieve cardiovascular fitness.” spending time unwinding in the warm The children eagerly anticipate their and invigorating water. time in the pool. “Even those boys who Chana Silverman, residence social are non- verbal,” says Chana, “will proudly worker, describes the pool and its sur- stop by my office wearing their robe and roundings as aesthetically beautiful. swimsuit just to show me that they are go- “The pool is built in a basement exten- ing swimming.” Chana describes Isaac who sion,” says Chana, “with tiles, skylights and is so challenged that it’s almost impossible spacious bathroom facilities.” It’s not only to recognize his feelings. Except when he’s pretty. It also meets the highest safety in the pool. “We clearly see the way Isaac’s standards, with special door and pool face lights up when he’s there,” says Chana. alarms that ring loudly when activated. The happiness and serenity created usually A continuous motion machine is adjust- lasts all evening. Staff reports that boys who ed by staff to reflect each resident’s needs. receive physical therapy or speech therapy Those more physically agile can learn how are much more receptive to it after spending to swim against the steady current. Those time at the pool. physically challenged enjoy the soothing The pool was a costly investment, Chana motion of the gentle waves on their bod- says, both in terms of its initial construc- ies. Every child is accompanied by both tion and in continuous maintenance. a staff member in the water and a trained Nevertheless, according to ev- lifeguard. eryone at the E.7th Street resi- The hydrotherapy pool is probably the dence, it’s an investment best thing that ever happened at this resi- that is reaping tremen- dence.

Load more