Yachad, the Orthodox Union’s agency for those with disabilities, will present its first West Coast Family Shabbaton in Los Angeles at the Sheraton Agoura Hills from Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15.
Yachad Family Shabbatons (weekend retreats) first made their appearance in the Northeast and spread across the country, providing one-of-a-kind weekends of support, education, networking, and inspiration within the context of a beautiful Shabbat for families who have children with special needs.
Featured presenters include psychologist and disabilities expert Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, International Director of Yachad, and clinical psychologists Dr. Alan Samson and Dr. Esther Hess. Sessions will feature topics ranging from balancing familial needs to providing young adults with tools to transition into the workforce, and managing stress to finding appropriate educational opportunities.
Adira Botwinick, MSW and MSC Coordinator for Yachad, will be leading Sibshops, a discussion group for siblings. Allison Horowitz will run programming for Yachad members that includes games, summer-related activities and even a luau.
Orit Faguet, Director of Los Angeles Yachad, shared, “The Yachad Family Shabbaton is a really wonderful opportunity to bring families together and give them the chance to connect with each other while offering cutting edge information and support. This Shabbaton is also an opportunity to project the unique and valuable inclusion services and programs which Yachad offers to the West Coast community at large.”
For further information contact Orit Faguet at losangelesyachad@ou.org or call 212-613-8285.