Last week, YahalomNJ hosted an event at SkyZone in Lakewood, New Jersey, for boys who have a sibling with special needs. The event was organized in response to a need expressed by many Yahalom parents of children with special needs: the impact of the child with special needs on their siblings.
Brothers of children with special needs were invited to SkyZone for an hour of jumping, climbing, and playing. The activity was followed by a pizza supper and dancing with volunteers in full costume.
“My son was looking forward to this event for days,” said one mother. “He kept telling his little sister with special needs, ‘I get to go to SkyZone because of you! Thank you!’ He always loved her, and this only increased his positive feelings towards his sister.”
Agudah thanks the Misameach chessed organization for sending volunteers to dance with the boys.
“Having a sibling with special needs does impact the entire family in a very big way,” said Mrs. Chana Laniado, director of YahalomNJ. “We wanted the boys to feel that they are also special, that they also deserve special attention – and the smiles on the boys’ faces told us that they felt very special indeed.”
Yahalom is Agudah’s resource and referral department for families of children with special needs. Yahalom provides support to their families in a multitude of ways, including assisting parents with receiving government programs, connecting them with other organizations, or offering emotional support through events and activities.
To contact Mrs. Laniado at YahalomNJ, email [email protected] or call 848.285.8444.
To reach another Yahalom office:
Florida: Mrs. Tzippy Richmond, [email protected], 305.532.2500 ext 2
Illinois: Mrs. Fiona Kark, [email protected], 773.279.8400 ext 266
Maryland: Mrs. Meira Burkom, [email protected], 667.430.0901
New York: Miss Tova Wacholder, [email protected], 212.747.8763
