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| Open R.O.A.D. |
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| Board Members |
| Board Members: Robert Fasanello Tamar Small Rabbi Evan Jaffe Robert Leith Dr. Philip May Janet McMahon Robert Pruznick Advisory Board: Leila Gold Bernice Levy Honorary Board: Steve Kalafer Founding Board Member-Deceased Thomas McKenna 14 Lake Court Flemington, NJ 08822 908-284-1207 |
OPEN Religious Organizations Accepting Disabilities
In 1999, an occupational therapist, Robert Leith, and I, a pulpit
rabbi, Evan Jaffe, founded an organization called Open R.O.A.D.
Both of us at the time were involved in the disability community
and were frustrated by what we saw as the slow pace of
community integration for those with disabilities, particularly when
it came to attendance at religious services. Our mission, as we
saw it, was simple: to bring people with disabilities of all kinds to
houses of worship of their choice for religious services and social
activities on a regular basis.
Today we remain involved in the disability community and over the
past six years we have taken significant steps toward fulfilling that
mission. Open R.O.A.D. is interfaith and works to serve those
residing in institutions, group homes, assisted living facilities,
elderly who are homebound, clients who are both ambulatory and
non-ambulatory. We
are collaborating with public and private transportation systems in
four of New Jersey’s twenty-one counties Hunterdon, Camden,
Middlesex and Somerset to provide trips to houses of worship
on a once a month basis. (We hope to be operational throughout
the state soon.)
Open R.O.A.D.’s objective, were this a perfect world, would be to
bring all those with disabilities to houses of worship of their choice
not only in New Jersey, but throughout the country. For new, we
are engaged in an ongoing effort to identify clients who wish to go
in several counties in New Jersey. Our most successful mode of
communication has thus far been word of mouth and contracts
with service providers. In Middlesex County, the list of
homebound elderly grows monthly; as of July, 2005, we are
transporting about twenty homebound elderly and eight residents
of ARC group homes to church on a once a month basis. In
Camden County, six residents from an assisted living facility are
going to synagogue using the public transportation system, as are
seven to ten residents from an assisted living facility in Somerset
County. The program is monitored by periodic contacts with the
individual consumers to insure that the services continue.
What is most innovative about Open R.O.A.D. is the fact that we
have found ways to use existing, under-utilized resources to
achieve our goals. We are not bound by, or wedded to, any
particular method or approach. In Middlesex and Somerset
Counties, for example, Open R.O.A.D. was able to enter into
written agreements to use their vehicles, which are idle on
Sundays to transport consumers. We pay them an hourly rate for
their services. Issues of liability are eliminated as both drivers
and vehicles are insured by the state, and the vehicles can
transport those both ambulatory and in wheelchairs, as well as
staff, if necessary. In Camden County, Open R.O.A.D. was able
to include our consumers with those who utilize the public
transportation for medical needs on Saturday. In Mercer County,
Open R.O.A.D. is working with a service provider Allies to
pay their staff to drive Allies’ vehicles to transport consumers. In
Hunterdon County we have contracted with the local High School,
which has its own buses to take our clients to services. In short,
Open R.O.A.D. is willing to work with any agency or organization
in any way to accomplish our goals.
There are numerous studies that suggest that the quality of life
for the sick, elderly and disabled can be enhanced by regular
attendance at religious services. From anecdotal evidence Open
R.O.A.D.’s consumers consider an opportunity to go to the church
of their choice a great gift. Many have had a long history one
consumer was baptized in her church 93 years ago and
appreciate the chance to have regular contact with their
community and with G-d.
The program could be replicated by other professionals. The
agreements with Somerset and Middlesex Counties can be used
as a model for other counties, with modifications if necessary.
With a bit of persistence, other ways of transportation can be
utilized. The key is to know that the vehicles are there,
operational and often unused on Saturdays and Sundays. There
are consumers who would like to go to religious services. The two
can be put together in extremely cost effective ways to the
enormous benefit of our elderly and otherwise disabled
populations.
In 1999, an occupational therapist, Robert Leith, and I, a pulpit
rabbi, Evan Jaffe, founded an organization called Open R.O.A.D.
Both of us at the time were involved in the disability community
and were frustrated by what we saw as the slow pace of
community integration for those with disabilities, particularly when
it came to attendance at religious services. Our mission, as we
saw it, was simple: to bring people with disabilities of all kinds to
houses of worship of their choice for religious services and social
activities on a regular basis.
Today we remain involved in the disability community and over the
past six years we have taken significant steps toward fulfilling that
mission. Open R.O.A.D. is interfaith and works to serve those
residing in institutions, group homes, assisted living facilities,
elderly who are homebound, clients who are both ambulatory and
non-ambulatory. We
are collaborating with public and private transportation systems in
four of New Jersey’s twenty-one counties Hunterdon, Camden,
Middlesex and Somerset to provide trips to houses of worship
on a once a month basis. (We hope to be operational throughout
the state soon.)
Open R.O.A.D.’s objective, were this a perfect world, would be to
bring all those with disabilities to houses of worship of their choice
not only in New Jersey, but throughout the country. For new, we
are engaged in an ongoing effort to identify clients who wish to go
in several counties in New Jersey. Our most successful mode of
communication has thus far been word of mouth and contracts
with service providers. In Middlesex County, the list of
homebound elderly grows monthly; as of July, 2005, we are
transporting about twenty homebound elderly and eight residents
of ARC group homes to church on a once a month basis. In
Camden County, six residents from an assisted living facility are
going to synagogue using the public transportation system, as are
seven to ten residents from an assisted living facility in Somerset
County. The program is monitored by periodic contacts with the
individual consumers to insure that the services continue.
What is most innovative about Open R.O.A.D. is the fact that we
have found ways to use existing, under-utilized resources to
achieve our goals. We are not bound by, or wedded to, any
particular method or approach. In Middlesex and Somerset
Counties, for example, Open R.O.A.D. was able to enter into
written agreements to use their vehicles, which are idle on
Sundays to transport consumers. We pay them an hourly rate for
their services. Issues of liability are eliminated as both drivers
and vehicles are insured by the state, and the vehicles can
transport those both ambulatory and in wheelchairs, as well as
staff, if necessary. In Camden County, Open R.O.A.D. was able
to include our consumers with those who utilize the public
transportation for medical needs on Saturday. In Mercer County,
Open R.O.A.D. is working with a service provider Allies to
pay their staff to drive Allies’ vehicles to transport consumers. In
Hunterdon County we have contracted with the local High School,
which has its own buses to take our clients to services. In short,
Open R.O.A.D. is willing to work with any agency or organization
in any way to accomplish our goals.
There are numerous studies that suggest that the quality of life
for the sick, elderly and disabled can be enhanced by regular
attendance at religious services. From anecdotal evidence Open
R.O.A.D.’s consumers consider an opportunity to go to the church
of their choice a great gift. Many have had a long history one
consumer was baptized in her church 93 years ago and
appreciate the chance to have regular contact with their
community and with G-d.
The program could be replicated by other professionals. The
agreements with Somerset and Middlesex Counties can be used
as a model for other counties, with modifications if necessary.
With a bit of persistence, other ways of transportation can be
utilized. The key is to know that the vehicles are there,
operational and often unused on Saturdays and Sundays. There
are consumers who would like to go to religious services. The two
can be put together in extremely cost effective ways to the
enormous benefit of our elderly and otherwise disabled
populations.
