As we celebrate Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) in February, we want to highlight our work both within our own Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services (IDDS) and in the community. JF&CS remains committed to enriching the lives, valuing the contributions, and expanding the potential of adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).
Understanding The Need
Approximately 240,000 Georgians live with I/DD. Their challenges limit participation in community life in ways that many people without disabilities may not realize.
People with I/DD often struggle with isolation due to physical barriers and social exclusion. For adults with I/DD who are not engaged in meaningful activities, the consequences extend far beyond boredom: they face higher risks of loneliness, depression, and anxiety, and often suffer with comorbid mental health diagnoses at a higher rate than the general population. The lack of opportunity to participate in community life often leads to poor self-esteem and overall dissatisfaction.
“In a world that challenges people with disabilities every day, and does not make life easy, we are a place where they can come and have their needs come first,” said Jen Keir, Director of IDDS at JF&CS. “Everyone deserves a welcoming community, and we create that for our participants here.”
Providing Holistic Care
We are proud to provide best-in-class services for adults with I/DD through our programs. IndependenceWORKS (IW) is a daytime community inclusion program with numerous outings and activities. The Zimmerman- Horowitz Independent Living Program (Z-H ILP) is a highly individualized living program which enables adults with disabilities to live as independently as possible in a 24-hour shared home or in their own home.
“As an agency dedicated to empowering lives, our services provide daily living support in a multi-pronged approach to enhance the quality of life for our clients,” said Jen. “We help them bridge the gaps between their realities of living with disability and their dreams of landing that great job, moving out on their own, starting a new romantic relationship, and more.”
Those who are able to work receive services through our Supported Employment program. This program helps individuals with disabilities to find and sustain meaningful employment within their communities. We work with local businesses to offer a positive experience for both clients and employers, and job coaches are on hand to help with resumes, interviews, on-site coaching, and any additional guidance.
Our clients celebrate holidays, write, direct and present movies, perform in a choir, and are given opportunities to pursue their unique talents and interests. They enjoy community through outings to museums, malls, lunch, and art studios, attending concerts, enjoying afternoons at the park, and more.
We know that supporting participants requires supporting our talented Direct Support Professionals who work with our clients every day. JF&CS compensates approximately 60% above the market average for their roles, and fosters a best-in-class work environment that contributes to low turnover and consistent, high-quality care.
Advocacy and Education: Driving Inclusion Forward
We are always growing our commitment to advocacy and education to drive inclusion forward. In advance of JDAIM, we partnered with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s JAccess program and Ecosystems to host a screening of the documentary film The Ride Ahead. The documentary film documents the life of a young adult navigating adulthood with a disability, and for participants it served as a window into the world of disabilities. As a result, we are able to educate, inform and start conversations.
The screening aligns with JF&CS’s ongoing Disability 101 training, which is created and facilitated by Abby Lail-Franz, Community Advocacy Manager, and shared across the community. The training will be featured at the employee Kugel Cookoff on February 19, presented at the City of Dunwoody Nonprofit Roundtable in March, and expanded to additional community organizations in the coming year.
Through these programs, JF&CS ensures that adults with I/DD are not only supported in their daily lives but empowered to grow, connect, and thrive. Our advocacy work reinforces this mission, championing the right of every individual to experience the dignity of being a valued member of their community.
Join Us
Discover how JF&CS is leading the way in disability inclusion, advocacy, and community building: email independence@jfcsatl.org or call 770.677.9409 to set up a tour today.