Making fun more inclusive

Jeffrey Johnson of West Orange, 29, has been participating in the JCC MetroWest’s Day Habilitation Program — DayHab — since 2017. His experiences on Tuesdays and Fridays include cooking with Chef Elena, dancing with dance fusion instructor Alejandra Churi, and indoor cycling with fitness instructor Reggie Dale.

The Day Habilitation program, for adults 21 and up with special needs, offers socialization and independent life skills training in an interactive community center setting. “I know how to move and groove in Dance Fitness,” Mr. Johnson said. “I like to teach my friends the dance steps and remind them to practice so they don’t get confused.” When asked about Mr. Dale’s indoor cycle class, Mr. Johnson laughed. “Reggie knows a lot about jokes,” he said. “He’s quite a funny guy.

“He also cycles well,” he added. “Sometimes he helps us, but I’m brave enough to get on and off my own bike.”

“The DayHab program takes place in a small setting with a maximum of 18 participants on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” Marisa Cohen said. Ms. Cohen, the director of special needs services at the JCC MetroWest, graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in educational psychology and then from NYU, with a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.

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A special needs professional for the past 29 years, Ms. Cohen was a pioneer in day habilitation programming, working with the Epilepsy Institute in Manhattan, the League Treatment Center in Brooklyn, and the Arc of Essex County in Livingston. She has worked with DayHab clients at the JCC MetroWest for 10 years. “The program predates me,” she said. “It started in 2007, with services offered just one day per week. It was funded by Alice Hirsh, who at the time lived in West Orange with her daughter, Jamie, who attended the program.”

Ms. Cohen works alongside Chrystal Immediato, the JCC’S assistant director of special services. A graduate of Montclair State University and mother of a child with cerebral palsy, Ms. Immediato is passionate about making each participant feel supported, valued, and included in the wider JCC community.

“Acceptance to our DayHab program requires a complete intake meeting, a tour, and a trial day,” Ms. Cohen said. “The trial day gives the program participant and the staff an opportunity to determine whether our program is a good fit, and if the level of support offered is sufficient to promote participant success.

“Participants who display aggressive behaviors, are unable to use the restroom independently, or cannot navigate the center on their own are typically referred to other programs,” she continued. “We offer a one staff to six participant ratio that appropriately supports our clients.”

Once a client is accepted, the JCC must fill out paperwork. “The client’s individual support coordinator will assist with forms required by the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities and Medicaid,” Ms. Cohen said. The program serves Essex, Morris, Union, Hudson, and Bergen counties.

“We see clients in our program with a variety of capabilities,” Ms. Cohen continued. “The majority of our participants are in their 20s and 30s, but some are in their 40s and 50s. There is race, culture and socioeconomic diversity among them. We are like the United Nations.”And to answer an often-asked question, “participants don’t have to be Jewish to take part in our programming. And participants can choose their preferred activities throughout the program day and have the option not to participate if they so choose,” she added.

“Marisa and Chrystal know a lot about autism,” Mr. Johnson said. “Even though I know the daily routine, the staff helps me learn what to do in emergencies,” he continued. “We know how to ‘stay low and go’ during a fire drill to get out of the building safely.”

Mr. Johnson said that he learns from the staff “how to have better conversations with people” and how to “make friends feel better or cheer them up when they’re sad or having a bad day

Marisa Cohen (JCC MetroWest)

“I also know how to tell friends not to laugh at each other,” he added. “Some people don’t like things that aren’t funny.”

Biola Akoh is the personal training and group exercise manager who oversees the fitness team. “I gave up my IT career in the U.K. to go into fitness full time in the United States,” she said. She joined the JCC in 2018 and became personal training and group exercise manager in 2021. She now oversees 75 classes, as well as all the JCC’s personal training services.

“Many of the JCC members who participate in our fitness classes have been coming for 15-plus years,” she said, referring to all JCC members, not the DayHab participants. The JCC had more classes and more instructors before covid, but since the pandemic ended, it moved out of the smaller classrooms and onto the gymnasium floor to offer clients more space to move about. The walking track is elevated and circles the gym..

“When the DayHab participants saw all the classes that were taking place on the gym floor, they were intrigued,” Ms. Akoh said. “They enjoyed watching the instructors teaching their classes and our instructors could see them waving to them while they were teaching.

“Last fall, Marisa Cohen sent me an email expressing her interest to include participants from the DayHab program in both the dance fusion class with Alejandra Churi and indoor cycle class with Reggie Dale,” Ms. Akoh said. “With the understanding that the classes were not integrated previously, I spoke with my instructors to get their thoughts. Each was enthusiastic about including the DayHab program participants and took time to consider how instruction might be tailored to a clientele who potentially had a different learning style than their existing clients.”

“I love the enthusiasm of the DayHab program participants,” Ms. Churi said. “They like to sing loud and have fun. And they like to request songs. If I don’t have the choreography ready for a song they’ve requested that day, I make sure to have it for the following week.”

Ms. Churi has asked the taller DayHab participants not to stand in the front row so they don’t block the view of the other class participants. “Sometimes they are so enthusiastic, they move all over the place, so I have them stay in the middle row,” she said. “I gently keep them in their spaces so I can oversee them, while making sure they’re having a good time. Marisa’s team and the DayHab program participants understand the importance of giving everyone space. She reminds them not to be intrusive.”

Ms. Akoh and her instructors make sure that the DayHab participants have a clear view of their instructors. “And if any of the DayHab program participants require more one-on-one training or oversight, we do our best to accommodate them,” Ms. Akoh added.

“Overall, it has been awesome having the DayHab program participants integrated into the fitness programs,” Ms. Cohen said. “We create opportunities for our participants to take part in inclusive activities. This breaks down barriers in how people perceive those with disabilities.

“DayHab staff attend all classes with our participants and can offer additional support if needed. All fitness instructors at the JCC offer variations to different exercises in their classes to accommodate a wide range of individuals, wherever they are in their fitness journey.”

“When I gave our regular indoor cycle class members a heads up that some DayHab program participants would be joining our Friday morning class, no one expressed any discomfort,” Mr. Dale, the fitness instructor, said. Mr. Dale’s 9:30 Friday class regularly includes five or more DayHab members. “They are very expressive and talkative in the integrated class, much more so than when they came themselves with their DayHab program peers,” Mr. Dale said. “They have more exposure to other adults — more people to interact with and have fun with. I could tell initially that JJ” — Jeffrey Johnson — “was nervous about being disruptive, but I make sure they’re all on bikes in the front row so they can focus, watch me, and follow along.

“They love music trivia games such as ‘who is singing this song?’ or ‘what’s the name of this song?’ I mix it up. Sometimes I call on someone and sometimes I let the participant call out the answer.”

Mr. Dale believes that the regular class participants feed off the enthusiasm of the DayHab clients. “They bring spirit and energy to my classes.”

“Sometimes the DayHab program participants get too excited and distract other participants or the instructors from the music,” Ms. Akoh said. “Sometimes in dance, they’ll wander away from their spot or clap unnecessarily. It’s a team effort between my staff and Marisa’s team to ensure that class etiquette is followed and that everyone respects others’ personal space.

“From the moment I emailed my staff and all the JCC members that we would be welcoming the DayHab program participants to some of our dance and cycling classes, everyone was prepared to be supportive, friendly, and inclusive,” she continued. “It’s been a win-win for the DayHab program participants and the JCC members who enjoy our classes.”

“In September 2023, at the beginning of the class integrations, we had some growing pains,” Ms. Cohen said. “There was so much excitement on the part of our program participants, resulting in loud conversation and some calling out instead of waiting to be called on. But throughout the year, our DayHab staff have worked with participants to understand the nuances of group exercise activities and how to navigate the rules. Their instructors have become more mindful of the variances in client ability, and the regular class participants have proven to be open-minded and willing to adapt to the new faces who have joined their classes.”

JCC MetroWest staff members agree that these interactive and inclusive experiences enrich the lives of both DayHab program participants and everyone else by reducing stigma and creating a more complete community experience.

“I like meeting new people, making friends and seeing them from week to week,” Jeffrey Johnson said. “When I meet someone I don’t recognize, I say ‘hello, how are you?’ and I shake their hand.” He can’t say enough about the indoor cycling and dance fusion classes he’s taking at the JCC. “We love to joke around with Reggie, but we know not to interrupt or disturb his class,” Mr. Johnson said. “And when we exercise to music with Alejandra, we know to follow the leader. If we miss a step or two it’s OK.

“We don’t have to be perfect.”

To learn more about the DayHab program at JCC MetroWest, go to jccmetrowest.org and follow the links, or email Marisa Cohen at mcohen@jccmwsupports.org.