- People with Disabilities
As a single mother with Multiple Sclerosis, Meira found that raising her daughter was becoming an increasing challenge. When she called JFCS, she was virtually homebound and was struggling with meal preparation and getting her daughter off to school. To complicate matters, Meira’s daughter had been diagnosed with a learning disability and Meira, unable to drive, did not know how she would get to the after-school specialist, let alone to her own medical appointments.
People with disabilities often need assistance to help them achieve and maintain optimal levels of well-being and self-sufficiency. JFCS case managers start by completing a detailed assessment for each new client in order to look closely at quality-of-life issues. Meira, who is on a fixed disability income, says, “I was feeling very overwhelmed and helpless. My stress was taking a toll and then I had an MS flare-up. Meeting my case manager for the first time took away a huge burden.”
After her initial consultation, Meira received help from JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth, which provided a parenting consultation in order to help develop practical strategies to benefit both Meira and her daughter. Meira’s case manager also arranged for safe rides to help Meira and her daughter get to apartments, and a cleaning service to make sure their apartment was clean, safe, and organized.
Meira speaks regularly with her case manager at JFCS who offers resources, encouragement, and coping tools. Living with a disability can be extremely challenging and isolating, and help from JFCS has been life changing for Meira. Since JFCS has stepped she says, “I feel like I can finally breathe…I know I can be a good mother, and now I can focus on my future with my daughter. It will take time, but I can do it.”
JFCS’ Disabilities Services help children and adults with disabilities and their families with information and referrals, advocacy, and case management in order to make it possible for clients to live independently. And through our Shupin Community, young adults with disabilities experience the opportunity to live independently in our many residences or make friends through the Shupin Social Club.
Major support for Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ Disability Services is provided by the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of California/Terry and John Levin.
Additional support is provided by the Barbara Shupin Fund for Independent Living; Terry & John Levin Endowed Fund for Persons with Disabilities; Seymour & Frances Friedman Endowment Fund; Fred M. & Nancy Livingston Levin Fund for Adults with Disabilities; Jessica & Zach Whyman Fund, and generous donations and fees.
To learn more about JFCS’ services to our community or to support JFCS’ Disability Services and Gary Shupin Independent Living Community, please contact Barbara Farber at [email protected] or 415-449-3858.