NIMBY, or “Not in My Backyard.” It sums up the attitude of people who protest when those with disabilities move into their communities
Mr. Jacobs was a benefactor to Makor Care and Service Network, a lifespan social services organization meeting the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. But his generosity extended beyond the material, as soon becomes clear when Jeff, a Makor staff member, begins the formal presentation with a story.
“Mr. Jacobs was an accountant by trade, and lived very by the book,” Jeff recounts. “I remember him explaining in great detail how an apartment, by law, needs to be heated. At this outside temperature, a landlord has to keep the heat so high. If the temperature drops lower, the heat needs to be turned up to this… But regardless of what the law might say his minimal obligation was, Mr. Jacobs always responded to the guys’ requests. If they asked him to turn up the heat, he did it with a smile. He just wanted the guys to be comfortable.”
Who was Mr. Jacobs, and why did dozens of people come together to learn and share a seudah and divrei brachah in his memory? To understand that, you need to know some history about Makor, the organization he helped.
When you’re a parent of a child with specialized needs, a lot of acronyms suddenly become part of your vocabulary. In the beginning, these acronyms tend to focus on diagnoses: I/DD (intellectual and developmental disability); ASD (autism spectrum disorder); and ED (emotional disturbance), to name a few. Soon, acronyms for different educational programs and styles begin to flow off the lips: EI (early intervention); IEP (individualized education plan); ABA (applied behavior analysis); and OT, PT, ST (occupational, physical, and speech therapies).
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