Learning life skills

Students graduate from special-needs program

About 75 special needs adults and children were recently honored after completing the Giborim U 12-week program of courses at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie.

The Giborim U courses engage special needs adults and children, from ages 8 through 60, in a variety of courses covering arts, life skills, socialization and sports to enrich the lives of the students.

“This is a very proud day to recognize the achievements of all the students who deserve to be honored today,” said Scott Ehrlich, CEO of the Posnack JCC in his remarks at the awards ceremony.

According to Ehrlich, the Giborim (translated from Hebrew as “heroes”) U program marks the first time that a year round program has been offered for special needs adults and children at any South Florida Jewish Community Center.

“Giborim U is an outgrowth of the center’s unique and special special needs camp (Camp Giborim) which we have run since 1991on our campus,” said Ehrlich.

Special needs adults and children enrolled at Giborim U are diagnosed with a developmental disability including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other disabilities.

“Special needs people, like all of us, need to develop the social skills to interact with others and bond. In working with our students, we see an increase in verbal skills through improvisation, movement and music,” said Debra Lombard of the nonprofit Exceptional Theater Company, in offering classes at Giborim U in drama, movement and music.

Along with classes in drama, other classes offered at GiborimU include basketball, cooking, dancing, hip hop, karate, soccer, weights in motion, yoga, and zumba.

Jewish Federation of Broward County has granted Giborim U an allocation of $30,000 to continue the program.

“We are very pleased that Giborim U is being viewed as a program that other JCCS across the country wish to implement,” said Ehrlich.