P’TACH recently held a parent information meeting for the Queens community hosted by Meir and Rina Shachar.  The meeting was the second this year in the greater New York area following the Brooklyn parent meeting hosted in Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel.  Rabbi Avi Kramer, co-Director of Institutional Advancement, welcomed everyone and spoke about the importance of parents knowing the available educational resources for their children.  He then introduced a mother of one of this year’s graduates.

Rabbi Avi Kramer co-Director of Institutional Advancement addressing the meeting

The mother spoke about her child before P’TACH and how he was miserable and his self-esteem was at an all-time low.  She was afraid she wouldn’t see the day he would graduate let alone be a productive part of society.  After sending him to P’TACH, she immediately saw a change – first with the school and, after some adjustment and hard work – with her son.  The P’TACH staff was there to work with her and she felt an equal part of the team working to help her son succeed.  She stopped being fearful every time the phone rang and actually looked forward to calls from the school.  He blossomed into a self-confident teenager with knowledge of his strengths and he discovered different skills that he was unaware that he had.  He began to succeed.  The transformation was miraculous and only because she took the steps necessary to put her son in the appropriate educational setting.

Mrs. Jackie Welkowitz, Program Coordinator in Queens addressing the parents

The P’TACH video was shown describing the programs and services P’TACH has to offer, Everyone walked out of the evening with a feeling that P’TACH is a place to turn to when you are concerned with your child’s progress in school.  P’TACH is a community resource that has been serving the Jewish community for 35 years while keeping abreast with the latest developments and techniques in the field of Special Education.  If we take the right steps and make the appropriate decisions we will be on the right track to helping our children succeed!

P’TACH is planning more parent information meetings.  For more information about these meetings and to find out more about P’TACH’s programs and services call 718-854-8600 ext.120 or visit us at www.ptach.org.

PowerParenting with Dr. Pelcovitz

Over 350 parents packed Young Israel of Midwood this past Sunday to experience P’TACH’s powerful presentation, ”PowerParenting:Three Keys to Instilling Values That Will Last a Lifetime” by renowned child psychologist, Dr. David Pelcovitz.

The crowd was treated to a viewing of the new P’TACH video which was introduced by Rabbi Avi Kramer, co-Director of Institutional Advancement.  The P’TACH video gives a taste of what P’TACH is all about and how P’TACH works with the community to make Torah available for all children.

Rabbi Mordechai Twerski, Rav of Beis Medrash Ateres Shloime, was then called on to give divrei bracha and to introduce Dr. Pelcovitz.  Rabbi Twerski spoke about the fact that every neshama has its purpose and as parents we see that each child has his/her own unique strengths and weaknesses and that through the work of P’TACH and people like Dr. Pelcovitz, we can bring out that unique purpose for every individual.

Dr. Pelcovitz then spoke about “Three Keys to Instilling Values That Will Last a Lifetime.”  The three keys that he spoke about were – Time, Balance, and Uniqueness.   Parents must spend the quality time with their children.  Spending time in body and not in spirit, i.e. while distracted with text messaging and emails, detracts from that important bonding time and sends a strong message to the child of how important they are to the parent.

Balance, it is so important to have love and limits. Semol doche vyemin mekareves.  Too much love creates a spoiled child.  Too many limits and the child becomes resentful.  The art of parenting is striking the right balance.  Uniqueness, as in the words of Rav Nachman of Breslov, every child has a unique tune and the challenge for parents and educators like P’TACH, is to recognize their individualities and to bring out that unique tune.  These are keys that will help ensure that the values that we instill in our children will last a lifetime.

The evening’s program was sponsored by Roth and Company and FitYId and the crowd was treated to a lavish spread of the finest cakes, fruits and refreshments that Pomegranate has to offer.

For recordings of the event contact the P’TACH office at (718) 854- 8600 or email info@ptach.org.

On Sunday night February 27, 2011 P’TACH celebrated 35 years of service in Jewish Special Education with their Annual Scholarship Dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan.  Opening remarks were given by Rabbi Noson Berman co-director of P’TACH’s Office of Institutional Advancement.

Mr. Hillel Weinberger of Teaneck, NJ and co-president of the board was the master of ceremonies and spoke about the dedication and efforts of the honorees to their communities and for P’TACH.  Each honoree was then introduced by a current or former student from one of the P’TACH programs who spoke about their personal challenges and how P’TACH has helped them overcome and succeed.

The honorees included Rabbi Mordechai and Rebbetzin Suri Twerski-Rabbinical Leadership Awardees, Dr. David and Doreen Cohen-Educational Awardees, Adina and Michael Kirshner-Chesed Awardees, and Ari Teman-Community Service Awardee.

The honorees were followed by the new P’TACH video which included divrei bracha from Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rabbi Hershel Schachter and Rabbi Yisroel Reisman.  They all spoke of the importance of supporting P’TACH which is the only vehicle for these children to learn and succeed in life.

Rabbi Kamenetsky commented, “Helping P’TACH is helping someone for his entire life”.  Rabbi Feinstein said, “kineged arba banim dibra torah” – the torah needs to be accessible to all children and, ”it is incumbent on everybody, as part of the chinuch of klal yisrael, to make sure that P’TACH is budgeted to do their Avodas hakodesh…”  Rabbi Schachter spoke of how children who have gone to P’TACH have continued on into all fields from kollelim to medical to business and all things in between.   Rabbi Reisman expressed how the change in attitude towards Jewish education in general and Special education in particular have come from efforts put forth by P’TACH.

The beautiful and moving dinner was a testament to the mesiras nefesh of the men and women who founded P’TACH 35 years ago and the change that they have been able to make to the landscape of Jewish Education.  This change would not be possible without the help of the community and the special friends of P’TACH who give of their time and money to help P’TACH continue its avodas hakodesh and who are recognized and honored at the dinner.  The Torah is a Morasha Kehilas Yakov – an inheritance for every Jew – and with the help of the community, P’TACH ensures that there will continue to be Torah for All Children.

With the humility, deep knowledge and understanding that are characteristic of professionals in her field, Dr. Weinstein is thoughtful in sharing her observations and assessments of the emotional and social issues facing children with learning differences.

“I begin the school year by touching base with each and every child,” she says. “I reassure them of the confidentiality of our conversations and we talk about all kinds of issues, like resolving negative feelings or conflicts with other girls. We talk about fitting in with the girls in the mainstream classes.” The girls often stop by of their own volition, knowing they have an adult to talk to with a sympathetic ear who is squarely on their side.

But what is fitting in? What is the goal for these girls?

Emotions run deep. Children with learning differences often don’t know that other girls are going through the same feelings of inadequacy. Most of all, they don’t want to be seen as “stupid” by their peers. Fitting in is feeling comfortable with other kids their age; feeling “regular” or “normal.” Ultimately, the goal is making reliable friends and establishing close relationships with people.

Dr. Weinstein observes, “At the end of four years in the P’TACH program, you cannot tell the difference between the P’TACH seniors and the mainstream girls. That’s the goal.”

What about the atypical teens for whom conforming is an even greater challenge? Some children are artistic types, for instance, so learning differences or not, they would stand out as different. They may dress differently or express themselves in other creative ways. Others may be naturally shy, while still others may be first generation Americans and need help fitting in culturally.

Dr. Weinstein explains that every child is different and that the P’TACH program in all of its facets – academics, socialization and guiding children through the maturation process – takes a holistic approach to each child. Differences in personality, family circumstances as well as in learning style are taken into account

One recent graduate, a very talented artist, felt left out. Dr. Weinstein helped her understand that it wasn’t necessary to be friends with everyone in school; she should work on one friend at a time and that close friendships with one or a few girls are meaningful. This young woman grew to have close friends and found her place in the world in an arts program in Israel. “

We engineer relationships,” Dr. Weinstein says. “For the very, very shy, we implement a ‘shaping program.’ Girls are encouraged to take small steps to learn to socialize. Perhaps they first stand next to other girls or a girl they’d like to talk to. We practice a special, friendly voice for when they finally make the move to engage in conversation. The motivation to succeed socially is very strong. For the girls that deny they need help, we are always tweaking motivation.”

Children with learning differences may also have problems at home that contribute to educational and social delay. Dr. Weinstein often recommends family therapy outside P’TACH, which can change family dynamics in a very healthy way. Parents may get help individually, while others seek help for the family as a whole. In either case, Dr. Weinstein and the P’TACH staff work closely to see that the child involved progresses and feels comfortable in school while family relationships change and evolve.

Dr. Weinstein points out another aspect of the importance of fitting in with peers: friendships pull children through the hard times, with school or family or other relationships. Helping children navigate socially brings all kinds of benefits. And, the older girls at P’TACH are aware of this; they tend to mentor the younger girls, promoting a feeling of belonging.

“In the social and emotional realms, children with learning differences are the same as any other teenagers. They want the same things – acceptance and appreciation. I tell parents, ‘If you sense they’re not engaged, don’t be afraid to get help from therapists and encourage your children to reach out to other kids.’

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