Chairperson’s Message 2023

Established in 1947, this year the North Jersey Elks Developmental Disabilities Agency (NJEDDA) is celebrating its 76th Anniversary of providing educational and therapeutic services to individuals with disabilities.

NJEDDA is a private non-profit organization, operated by a volunteer Board of Trustees comprised of representatives from local Elks Lodges and other concerned citizens. As a team, NJEDDA has been serving individuals from the age of 18 months through High School.

Services provided to toddlers and students range from academics, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy to vocational training, social and emotional development and nursing. We have worked very hard to continue to provide the best opportunities to our students, clients, and their families.

It is with a heavy heart that we must close our adult center at the end of June 2023. The rising costs in every area have made it so we can not sustain the losses over the past years. We will assist our clients with finding other placements and services, as well as assist their families in every way possible. We have not made this decision without great pain and have sustained years of financial loss in trying to make it work but were sadly unsuccessful in our efforts.

These past years have been difficult. Coming out of Covid and getting staff for the schools has been exhausting to say the least. Our staff met the challenges of the virus and have continued to provide the best educational, therapeutic, vocational, social, and medical programs possible.

Staff dedicated their time to ensuring that services for students were not interrupted. They have worked tirelessly to provide adaptive equipment, classroom materials, and resources to each family.

Special thanks to the Passaic County Elks Special Children’s Committee for their generous donations, for without them we would not operate. The toddler playgroup provides services and support to toddlers with special needs as well as their families.

Geared to children ages 18 months to 3 years old who are eligible for services through the NJ Early Intervention Program, the program is staffed with a bilingual teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, and a social worker. The staff creates activities focused on enhancing gross and fine motor skills as well as language and socialization.

The elementary and high schools provide services to students ages 3 through 21. Each school offers educational and therapeutic programs geared to the students’ developmental levels. The students receive instruction in the following academic areas: math, language arts and literacy, science, social studies, art, music, daily living and vocational skills.

The students receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy services based on their needs. Our nurses and social worker assist students and their families with the medical and social services they may require.

We continue to provide onsite clinics with equipment suppliers, orthotists, pediatric orthopedic surgeons, and pediatric physiatrists on a regular basis.

These programs would not be possible without the support of the Board of Trustees and the Passaic County Elks Special Children’s Committee. Our Board of Trustees officers include myself as Chairman, along with Nicholas Trentacoste (First Vice-Chairman), Anthony Fiorello (Treasurer), and Ernest P. Canali (Secretary).