It’s Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), a time for Jewish organizations to join forces to raise awareness and promote acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities.

JCFS Chicago is coming together with partner agencies to better support people with intellectual/development disabilities (I/DD). As a collaborative process from the start, JCFS secured a generous JUF Disabilities Capacity Building grant last month to provide its own staff and that of partner agencies Keshet, Yachad and Libenu with essential training courses.

“Though not required by the state, these trainings are critical in preventing injury and death, as well as improving overall quality of treatment for individuals with I/DD who benefit from our services,” said Kimberly Schulte, Senior Grants & Planning Manager. There are three training courses, which will be offered by IntellectAbility, a trusted resource and leading expert in professional trainings focused on risk resolution for staff caring for individuals with I/DD.

The first training course provides strategies for preventing the Fatal Five, which are the five most common causes of death among individuals with I/DD. The course teaches staff how to provide adequate support and treatment for these preventable conditions.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words is the second training course, which helps professionals identify behaviors that can actually be signs or symptoms of underlying medical conditions among people with I/DD who can’t communicate them verbally.

The third training course focuses on Person-Centered Thinking and helps staff shift the way they provide services to empower individuals with I/DD to have more positive control and decision-making power in their own lives.

“These trainings will equip staff with the tools they need to protect and empower individuals with I/DD,” Kimberly said. “The collaborative effort aligns all participating agencies as partners serving our communities, providing consistency in care."