During Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), we’re recognizing three local Jewish-owned businesses who have hired individuals with disabilities through the JCFS Duman Opportunity Center (Duman). 

Mizrahi Grill in Highland Park, Zelda’s Catering in Skokie and Care One Pharmacy in Niles each have at least one employee who was hired through our program, said Leah Rudy, Assistant Director of the Duman Opportunity Center. Our employment specialists are committed to helping people with disabilities (aged 16 and older) find and maintain meaningful employment through high-quality, customized services and streamlined supports, such as job readiness training, placement assistance, retention strategies and job coaching.  

Care One Pharmacy has worked with Duman in the past, and our current hire has scanning and shredding responsibilities, Leah said. 

Mizrahi Grill began working with Duman employment specialists more recently, after an Orthodox job seeker’s family made the request. Now that individual, Yosef, rolls silverware there. Yosef also works at Zelda’s, where he was hired for part-time work after he had volunteered there making challah kits during Covid, said Linda Neiman, Founder and President of Zelda’s. 

“Both places have created a warm and welcoming environment for our workers” Leah said. “

Linda said Yosef’s tasks at Zelda’s are tailored to his abilities: he helps transfer order tickets to the kitchen and brings orders to customers during carryout Wednesdays (a service that has ended for this year), as well as helps organize supplies and polishes silverware.  

Melissa Chandler, Creative Director at Zelda’s, said Yosef is also learning to work independently, and he also works hard at interacting with customers, which helps improve his social skills. 

Including people with disabilities in the workforce can help boost morale and workplace culture, increase employee retention and productivity, leading to a stronger bottom line. For employers looking to build an inclusive workplace, the Duman Opportunity Center offers support to businesses who embrace disability inclusion in their hiring practices. 

“We love the success we see with the program,” Linda said. “We hope that it continues to grow.”