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24 JANUARY 2019
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Jewish News 24 January 2019
Jewish Blind & Disabled / Experts in Independent Living
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24 January 2019 Jewish News
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Experts in Independent Living / Jewish Blind & Disabled
The First Time in Fifty Years In the ’60’s ‘love might have been in
the air’ and ‘freedom’ the watchword for a generation, but if you were physically disabled or vision-impaired, your options in life were very different: you were either severely restricted and dependent on others, or you had to move into residential care, often at a relatively young age. But one man, Cecil Rosen, was determined to enable people in this position to live independently with the same dignity and choice that are so easy for others to take for granted. And, to this end, 50 years ago in 1969, he set up a charity dedicated to enabling independent living. Thanks to his determination and foresight, thousands of people from the age of 18 upwards have been able to live life as they choose behind the front door of their own specially designed mobility apartment in one of Jewish Blind & Disabled’s state-of-the-art developments, with support on-site and on call 24/7. And now, Jewish Blind & Disabled is very excited to be stepping outside its own front door to bring its 50 years of expertise in enabling independent living to people wherever they may live, starting with those within the M25. The organisation’s Independent Living Advisor will visit people in their own homes, people whose mobility, dexterity or sight has deteriorated or who may have just had to face a life-changing diagnosis of disability - something that will happen to one in five people at some point in their lives. So often, people in this situation have no idea what questions they should be asking, let alone of whom but, as the only charity in the Jewish community dedicated to enabling
people with physical disabilities or impaired vision to live independently, Jewish Blind & Disabled can now be there to show how life can – and does – go on. Fifty years on from when the charity was first established, so much has changed, not just in terms of Jewish Blind & Disabled’s own developments, but also in terms of the aids and technologies that now exist, which that can make all the difference to someone’s ability to maintain their muchprized independence. From wet floor shower rooms to grab rails in the shower, and from internal lifts to rise and recliner chairs, there are so many ways in which life can be made easier and independence become more than just a dream. Jewish Blind & Disabled’s independent living advisor could produce a tailor-made set of recommendations for you or a loved one who you think could benefit from this unique service. And where these are not affordable, the advisor may even be able to recommend that Jewish Blind & Disabled pay for the aids, for the user to keep for as long as they need them. Just two examples of the ways in which people’s lives are already being improved and enhanced by this life-changing service are: ★ Mrs L was finding her ability to cook for herself, and thereby maintain her independence, was being severely impaired by her increasing difficulty with opening jars, cans, bottles and containers. She even struggled with pouring a kettle and found it hard to lift a saucepan to drain the contents. She was worried that the kitchen, her favourite room in the house, was increasingly becoming a no-go area. Our independent living advisor
drink on her own, but she hated the idea of having to become dependent on someone else to help her with these personal tasks. Jewish Blind & Disabled’s independent living advisor was able to reassure her of the existence of aids that will enable her to continue to manage for herself for some time to come, including cutlery that is easy to grips and twists in the shafts, making it adjustable to any angle, as well as easy-to-hold drinking cups. In addition, dressing would be made much easier using such gadgets as a bra angel, sock helper and dressing sticks. These examples show how major issues that have a real impact on people’s ability to look after was able to recommend themselves and, hence, a number of useful and on their overall sense of affordable aids that well-being can often be would make all the solved by relatively small difference, including gadgets and aids if only gadgets for opening people knew of their jars etc, a kettle tipper availability. Of course, and a cooking basket to some issues need much fit inside her saucepans. more expensive solutions Mrs L also had proband may even require lems getting in and out large-scale adaptations to of her bath, which could someone’s home, but our have necessitated much The charity’s independent living independent living advisor more major changes to advisors suggest amendments will be able to recommend her home. However, the the best course of action and independent living advisor did not feel that ensure that this route is only followed when large-scale adaptations were required at this absolutely necessary. stage, and instead suggested she use a bath Fifty years ago, in 1969, man first walked seat and a bath step to help her in this area. on the moon and the famous phrase ‘one In addition, the advisor was also able to small step for man, a giant leap for mankind’ recommend that Mrs L apply for Attendance entered our lexicon. If we may paraphrase, Allowance benefit, for which she had not this new venture from Jewish Blind & Disarealised she was eligible. bled may be a first small step outside their own front door, but it is a giant leap of hope ★ Another lady, Mrs E, struggled with her dexterity, finding it increasingly hard to dress and help for the many who have no other herself and even to manage to eat and organisation to whom they can turn.
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Jewish News 24 January 2019
Jewish Blind & Disabled / Experts in Independent Living
We’ve Come A Long Way
50 YEARS AGO Cecil Rosen gathered together a team of friends to help him realise his dream of enabling people with physical disabilities or impaired vision to live independently behind their own front door. One of that team, Malcolm Ozin, is still President of the charity to this day. Malcolm remembers how much things have changed over the last 50 years: “We started with just 20 converted bedsits in a building in Dulwich and now, when our latest development opens early in 2019, we will have over 300 state-of-the art one and twobedroomed apartments in seven beautifully designed developments across North West and North East London, each one designed to the highest mobility standards. And it’s not just
the amount and style of accommodation that has changed, our working methods are a bit different now too!! Back in the early days a group of us used to sit round someone’s table, personally putting all the appeals into envelopes before sending them off. I remember one year I was going on holiday and we had to get our New Year appeal out. We’d just set up on computer but we were having issues. I needed to liaise with America to get the problem sorted and the time difference meant I stayed up all night to get the leaflets printed before I went away. I can’t say I would be staying up all night now, but my dedication to Cecil’s dream is still as strong.” Dedication that was recognised with the well-deserved award of an MBE in 2012.
TIMELINE: 50 YEARS OF JEWISH BLIND & DISABLED
1969
Sir Matt Busby announces his retirement from Manchester United, the Victoria Line opens in London, John Lennon marries Yoko Ono and the Jewish Blind & Physically Handicapped Society is formed
1987
Terry Waite is kidnapped in Lebanon, Margaret Thatcher is re-elected as Prime Minister, hurricane force winds batter much of south east England and Fairacres is opened in Finchley with 32 mobility apartments by the newly re-elected Mrs Thatcher
1994
The Channel Tunnel opens between England and France, the Provisional IRA announces a “complete cessation of military operations” and John Joseph becomes Chairman of Jewish Blind & Disabled just before the first Cecil Rosen Court opens in Wembley with 29 mobility apartments
1997
An adult sheep named Dolly is successfully cloned, Diana Princess of Wales dies, a computer beats a World Chess Champion for the first time and Hilary Dennis Court opens in Wanstead with 35 mobility apartments and a memorial garden in memory of Princess Diana
1972
The mineworkers go on strike, the Duke of Windsor dies, Mastermind airs for the first time and we open our pilot project, Cavendish House, in Dulwich offering 20 bedsits at a total cost of only £100,000
1990
Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison, Mikhail Gorbachev is elected as the first executive president of the Soviet Union, the leaders of Canada, the United States, Margaret Thatcher resigns as Prime Minister after 11 years and Cherry Tree Court opens in Kingsbury with 40 mobility apartments
1995
Barings Bank collapses, O. J. Simpson is found not guilty of murder, Operation Desert Storm officially ends and Milne Court opens in South Woodford with 57 mobility apartments
24 January 2019 Jewish News
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Experts in Independent Living / Jewish Blind & Disabled
2001
The world’s first artificial heart transplant takes place, 9/11 changes the world, the first ever Xbox console is released and Aztec House opens in Redbridge with 42 mobility apartments and a day centre
2006
Countdown celebrates its 4,000th edition, North Korea claims to have conducted its first-ever nuclear test, Italy win the FIFA World Cup in Germany and the Milne Court extension of four wheelchair apartments is completed
2009
Icelandic government and banking system collapses, the EU Treaty of Lisbon comes into force, Avatar becomes the highest grossing film of all time and the Aztec House extension project of four new mobility apartments is completed
2015
Sepp Blatter announces his intention to resign from FIFA, Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest reigning British monarch in history, a global climate change pact commits all countries to reducing carbon emissions for the first time and Empowering Ability is launched, Jewish Blind & Disabled’s free to use online resource producing bespoke reports of relevant disability aids and advice
2003
Yugoslavia ceases to exist as a state, Saddam Hussein is toppled as leader of Iraq, Concorde makes its last commercial flight and Frances & Dick James Court opens in Mill Hill offering 42 flat mobility apartments
2008
Stock markets around the world plunge, surgeons at London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital perform the first successful implants for blind patients using bionic eyes, Barak Obama is elected president of the USA and Young JBD is established to welcome young professional supporters to the charity
2014
Latvia becomes the 18th country to adopt the Euro, the Ebola virus epidemic begins in West Africa, ISIL declares itself a caliphate and the new Cecil Rosen Court opens in Bushey Heath offering 41 mobility apartments
2019
Who knows what Jewish Blind & Disabled’s Golden Jubilee Year will bring on the national and international stage but they are looking forward to the next fifty years with the launch of their Independent Living Advisory service and the opening of their latest development of 19 mobility apartments, the Dyna & Fala Weinstock Wing of Cecil Rosen Court in Bushey Heath
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Jewish Blind & Disabled / Experts in Independent Living
The Road Ahead
“I see our 50th Anniversary as being as much about planning for the next 50 years as celebrating the past,” says Jewish Blind & Disabled chairman John Joseph MBE. This comment is typical of the man who has not stopped planning for the needs of those in the community with physical disabilities or impaired vision since he took over as chairman in 1994. At that time Jewish Blind & Disabled had two buildings with 70 tenants and John Joseph MBE today they are about to open their eighth development of state-of-the-art mobility apartments which will take the number of people they will be able to house to over 380. “Looking to the future we have to think about how things are changing, particularly how technology can now be used to
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improve the life of people with disabilities wherever they may live. I am very excited that we are now taking the expertise we have gained over our 50 year history to people in the community who, for whatever reason, do not live in one of our wonderful developments. At the same time we are always on the lookout for more land so that we can continue to build our unique developments which not only help people manage those essential everyday tasks but also provide warm and welcoming communities offering companionship and a social life to people who previously had often been unable to get out of their own front door.” As John looks to the next 50 years, he is clearly particularly proud of the role that younger supporters are playing “You cannot start too young educating children about what it is like to live with a disability and the importance of supporting charity in general and, of course, Jewish Blind & Disabled in particular!” To secure this future the charity places a lot of emphasis on its younger supporters from its Schools Programme, through Young Professional events run by it Life & Style Committee to its Young Patrons campaign. As John concludes: “These young people are our future, they will see us through the next 50 years.”
Young v oluntee rD to blind tenant M aniel reading ichael
Schoolchildren entertaining our tenants Malcolm Ozin MBE pre senting John Joseph MB E with a gift to mark his 20th ann iversary as Chairman
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Experts in Independent Living / Jewish Blind & Disabled
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Support in with Batm g Jewish Blind & D itzvah d onations isabled
Young Professionals raising a glass to Jewish Blind & Disabled
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Young Professionals enj oying Bingo while supporting Jewish Blin d & Disabled
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Jewish News 24 January 2019
Jewish Blind & Disabled / Messages of Support
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The best measure of any community is the way that it looks after its most vulnerable. Amongst the great heroes of our community are those who have founded and maintained institutions which enable those who require additional support to achieve their potential. This is why, fifty years after Cecil Rosen embarked on a journey to do precisely that, we celebrate the achievements of the staff and volunteers of Jewish Blind & Disabled as they follow in his footsteps.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
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The United Synagogue rabbinate recognises first-hand how essential Jewish Blind & Disabled’s work is and we wish you a golden Mazal Tov on this amazing achievement. May Hashem give you the strength to continue for 50 more!
Rabbi N.S. Liss Chair, Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue
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Jewish Blind & Disabled does incredible work in realising our tradition’s fundamental commitment to supporting one another. May the next 50 years be filled with blessings.
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism
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Hearty congratulations on your Golden Jubilee. The help you have given to people with impaired vision and physical disabilities has changed many lives for the better.”
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Marie van der Zyl President, the Board of Deputies of British Jews
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The freedom that Jewish Blind & Disabled bring to those who struggle with disabilities, is the greatest kindness. I add my voice in support of their great work.
Rabbi Joseph Dweck Senior Rabbi of the S&P Sephardi Community
Liberal Judaism salutes the creative work and impressive achievements of Jewish Blind & Disabled as it marks its 50th anniversary.
Rabbi Danny Rich, Senior Rabbi & Chief Executive
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We’ve made so many friends at Fairacres. We appreciate Jewish Blind & Disabled for offering independence, safety, support and kindness.
Jonathan Wittenberg The New North London Synagogue
www.jbd.org/info@jbd.org/020 8371 6611 Registered Charity No 259480