Pandemic Exacerbates Funding/Staffing Crises for People with Disabilities and Their Families
As of September 2021, over 12,000 people with an intellectual disability needed financial help and were on Pennsylvania’s waiting list for funding. At the same time, there is a dire shortage of direct support professionals due to non-competitive wages. As a result, family caregivers are frequently faced with leaving their jobs to give loved ones with disabilities the support they need. These crises existed before the pandemic and are getting worse.

ConnectAbility: A Disability Inclusion Resource

ConnectAbility is not just a blog, but a quarterly disability resource for the Pittsburgh Jewish community. We hope you enjoy this edition which focuses on disability advocacy. This issue includes: 

• Action alert: tell Senate to support the Build Back Better Act to improve the lives of people with disabilities
• Champion of inclusion: Jillian Zacks
• Employment of people with disabilities: what you need to know
• Disability rights and the power of advocacy
• Disability inclusion and representation in the entertainment industry

Last Chance: Make Your Year End Tax-Deductible Donations
December 31st, 2021 is the last day to make a tax-deductible donation to JRS to support people with disabilities in our community. There are many ways to donate to JRS:

• Donate with a credit card online by clicking here or by calling 412.325.0039.
• Send a check to Jewish Residential Services at 2609 Murray Avenue, Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
• Donate from an IRA or with appreciated securities such as publicly traded stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares. Contact Caitlin Lasky at clasky@jrspgh.org or 412.325.0039 for more information.
• Make a legacy gift to ensure JRS can serve future generations.

Thank you for supporting JRS's mission!

In Person and Virtual Hanukkah 2021!
JRS's annual Hanukkah party is a treasured tradition. Everyone was very excited to attend an in-person Hanukkah party this year. The event was held at the Howard and Sally Levin Clubhouse and included live music, games, dancing, singing, lighting the Menorah (with Rabbi Daniel Fellman of Temple Sinai officiating) and delicious treats.

Pittsburgh Jewish Outreach Initiative (JOY), a collaboration of the Friendship Circle and Jewish Residential Services, held a virtual Hannukah event for people living in community living arrangements and other supported settings in the Pittsburgh area. The event was a blast!

Thank you to everyone who participated.

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