Page 8 - Boca ViewPointe - April '21

Page 8, Viewpointe April 2021

Celebrating World Autism Month:

Jewish Federation Of South Palm Beach County

Shows Love For All On The Spectrum

Every April, Autism Speaks celebrates World Autism
Month, beginning with the United Nations-sanctioned
World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. The Jewish
Federation of South Palm Beach County recognizes those
on the autism spectrum through its ongoing support of
its partner agencies.
For example, the Jewish Federation of SPBC is
proud to have played a role in the creation of a sensory
playground at the Torah Academy of Boca Raton, where
the youngest students do more than play. For Academy
students in first through fifth grades, the 20’ by 20’
outdoor space, which is equipped with special swings
and a trampoline, is a place to receive the kind of therapy
that little ones sometimes need. The children of Torah Academy of Boca Raton play on a sensory playground that helps students on the autism spectrum focus. The
A big tent top shades the space from sun and rain, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County supported the creation of the playground and the provision of PPE, so students
while fencing keeps students protected. Both items could learn outside with socially distancing. April is World Autism Month.
were made possible through funding from the Jewish
Federation of SPBC. Personal protective equipment (PPE) Bea Gold, Harold Katz, Joel Meisner, Arlene Penner, telephone number, (561) 852-3100, is monitored regularly
was also supplied to the Academy, thanks to COVID- Murray Pitkowsky, Mel Schoen, Doris & Stuart Zeuner, for voicemail messages.
specific monies from the JFNA Human Services Relief for their continued dedication and leadership. Learn more about our Federation and how you can
Matching Fund. If you or a neighbor are in need of help, please help at www.jewishboca.org - or contact Shirley Gross
Turning A Playground Into An Outdoor Sensory contact Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services at shirleyg@bocafed.org or (561) 852.3182 (leave a
Classroom at (561) 852-3333. In addition, our main Federation voicemail). 
With the renovated space and PPE, Torah Academy’s
Madraigos Resource Program staff are able to safely take
teaching outdoors, where social distancing and fresh air
are key. Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc.
On any given day, upwards of 20 students – the
majority with higher functioning disabilities, such as 6909 SW 18th St., Suite A120 A special Thank You to our monthly volunteer contributing writers
autism and ADHD, and those with sensory processing Boca Raton, FL 33433
and learning disabilities, and behavioral and social issues Office (561) 395-7551 Fax (561) 395-5936 Steve Handwerker Jack Kulick Barry J. Haberman
Email: info@bocapointe.com
– will receive “intense vestibular and proprioceptive Website: www.bocapointe.com Mort Mazor Anne Gannon Peter Sachs
Elyse Weintraub Brown
Judith Levy
Steven L. Abrams
input” and occupational therapy, said Malka Rhodes, Dr. Ronald J. Meyers Helen Karpel Arthur Dermer
the Academy’s former director of Student Support. Put Access Control Lisa Sileo Hillary Reynolds Alan Arnold
another way, students with special needs can spin in the Operator: (561) 395-3392 Rayna Becker Oris Martin William A. Gralnick
Voice mail system: (561) 395-3369
snuggle swing, jump on the trampoline, or play with Website: www.gateaccess.net Halli Moore Robert Weinroth Mark Nelles
balls provided by school therapists. The therapists lead Staff Harold Katz Lin Schader
Justin Mocha
Harriet Rubin
the children through guided circuits of physical exercise Kathleen O’Donovan, General Manager
to help them alleviate stress, focus on instructions and Lisa Cammaleri, Assistant Manager
communicate using their bodies. Yvonne Rivera, Administrative Assistant
“The children get a chance to swing, squeeze, feel Justin Mocha, Director of Security The views of the writers of the various articles in this newspaper do not
and jump. Using the swings – one is like a cocoon – we necessarily reflect the views of the Boca Pointe Community Association.
spin around those kids who never seem to get dizzy. Viewpointe of Boca Pointe is the newspaper The Association nor the individual writers are not responsible for claims
of Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc.
or promises contained in any advertising material appearing in the
We provide therapy balls, ones they can bounce on,” Please direct all questions, comments or Viewpointe. Such claims and promises are the sole responsibility of the
Rhodes said. “We put the mats on the walls, so they can articles for Viewpointe to lisa.cammaleri@ individual advertiser.
run and crash into them without any threat of injury. The fsresidential.com.
playground allows them to get that feeling of release and
freedom that every kid needs. When they return to the
classroom, they are more able to concentrate.”
Federation Support Extends To All On The Spectrum
– Here And Overseas
Beyond Torah Academy, the Federation proudly supports
many other programs provided through its partner agencies
that work with people on the autism spectrum. From the
nurturing environment of Marleen Forkas Camp Kavod,
which is part of the comprehensive offerings of the Levis
JCC Helene & Roy Schwedelson Special Needs department,
to the technological advancements in education, made Stylish Modern Atmosphere Make Reservations happy hour
possible through Beit Issie Shapiro in Israel, the Federation every Day 3 - 6 pm
assists thousands of people on the spectrum. It is the Jewish
Federation of South Palm Beach County’s goal to celebrate and Mon. - Thurs.
World Autism Month every day. all Day at Bar Only
Also Happening In April:
- On April 8, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Lunch SpeciaLS
Beach County will present Yom HaShoah, Hidden
Heros: A Virtual Tour of Amsterdam and Yad Vashem. every Day
Join us on Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, $
as we travel virtually to Amsterdam to meet the esteemed starting at 9
Dutch author and scholar Esther Shaya, who will share
stories of ‘hidden heroes’ whose bravery and creativity
helped save hundreds of lives. We will then travel to Yad
Vashem to meet Yeira at the ‘Avenue of the Righteous
Among the Nations’. Register at jewishboca.org/engage/
events/Community_Wide_yom_hashoa
- On April 16 at 4:30 p.m., PJ Library in South Palm
Beach County will be hosting a Grandparent Shabbat in
honor of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.
Grandparents and grandchildren are invited to zoom into
Shabbat with Morah Laura to sing and dance. For more
information, please contact Elana Ostroff at pjlibrary@
bocafed.org or (561) 852-6080.
Deepest thanks to Boca Pointe Federation
Campaign Chairs: Jane and Dan Fishkoff, and to
Committee Members: Rhoda Berkow, Allen Brayer, Si
Farber, Daniel Fischer, Richard Glazer & Elaine Kaplan,