JFS Perspectives

Join us for Jewish Disabilities Awareness Day this Sunday, February 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. This event is the cornerstone of the metro Denver Jewish community celebration of National Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month, promoting understanding and inclusion in community life for Jewish people with disabilities. The goal of the day, which focuses on “finding ability in disability,” is to increase awareness in both the Jewish and general community around the abilities, goals, and contributions of people with disabilities.

If you're not convinced, here are a Top 10 List of why you should attend!


 
10. You might learn something and you’ll have fun doing it.

9. Work with other participants on the Hiddur Mitzvah art project to create a custom piece of Gary Rosenthal Judaica that will be on display after the event.

8. Get inspired by Ken Gordon, former Colorado Senate majority leader, who will speak about his decision to become a legal guardian for a child with autism to whom he is not related.

7. It’s a Jewish event, so of course there will be food!

6. Hear the touching account of how disability and silence shape a life from Dr. Anne Gross, author of “The Polio Journals: Lessons from My Mother.”

5. Hear about the success of the ARC Thrift Store model from Lloyd Lewis and self-advocate, Lori Espinoza, in a presentation entitled “the Heroes of Thrift.”

4. Learn more about Josh Blue, a Denver-based comedian with cerebral palsy and winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, as he shares his story in “Conversations with Josh Blue.”

3. View art and other achievements by community members with disabilities, including the Circle of Light Photo Project in the Singer Gallery.

2. Focus on the abilities of people with disabilities!

And the Number One Reason to Attend is...

1. It’s free and open to the public! And did we mention Josh Blue will be there?

We hope to see you there!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Last Sunday, the residents and staff of the JFS Group Home experienced a helicopter flight over downtown Denver! Regina, owner of the Rotors of the Rockies, generously donated helicopters and crew for a 30-minute flight over downtown Denver, City Park, the Denver Zoo, Cheeseman Park, INVESCO field, Coors field, Sloan’s Lake, and other well-known sites.

Here's what some of the residents had to say about the adventure!


Emily: “I can now die because I have flown in the clouds and I have conquered my fears.”


Lee: “I am flying like a bird, I hope that everyone is looking up so they can see me.” 


Laurie: “I want to thank them because I have always dreamed of flying in a helicopter. Now I can say I did it!”


Barbara: “I am going tell my brother and nephew about what I did. They are going to be so proud of me.”

Rotors of the Rockies regularly gives back to our community by donating free flight time for the handicapped and people in need in our community.  Andrew, one of the pilots, said, “I love being a pilot, but I love giving back to groups like yours even more.”


Mike Lobato, JFS Group Home manager, said, "They were very professional and caring when taking care of us from preflight to helping us in and out of the helicopters."


Thank you to Rotors of the Rockies for this wonderful opportunity!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department