In early February Jewish Child & Family Service of Winnipeg launched their newly developed resources created to build awareness surrounding elder abuse. 

JCFS Winnipeg offer a pdf of "Not in My Family" Raising Awareness on Elder Abuse, which is a resource booklet and a short film.

Based upon materials gathered at the Ruderman Foundation Inclusion Summit in Boston, the admissions director for the Levine Jewish Residential and Family Service's programs, Andrea Cohan, conducted a thought provoking in-service training for Alpert's Jewish Family & Children's Service's entire staff along with visitors from Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and Friedman Commission on Jewish Education. The presentation included a glimpse into the challenges families faced raising children with disabilities in the 50's and 60's before the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, the progression of services required based upon the Supreme Court Ruling in the Ohlmstead Act of 1999, and what persons with disabilities would like to see in their future. One important result has been the increased self-confidence and visibility of people with disabilities and their ability to self-advocate.



The presentation brought to light the fact that persons with disabilities want the tools that will enable them to be productive members of society. The group held an animated discussion on the power of words and the impact words have on each of us. Words like inclusion, transition, and disability apply to all of us. Words like "special " and "special needs" marginalize those individuals with a disability. This prompted a lively and engaging discussion on how to best use vocabulary to continue to respect the diversity of JFCS clients and population.