Annual Report 2026 - Digital - Flipbook - Page 16
The Annual Report 2025-2026 | THE POWER OF BELONGING
GESHER BUILDS
THE BRIDGE
FORWARD
For many young adults with disabilities, life
after high school can bring an unexpected
sense of isolation. The daily routines,
friendships, and support systems that
once provided structure and connection
seemingly disappear overnight.
“Once the public school experience ends,
many families are left asking, ‘What’s next?’”
JCC Disability Inclusion Director Sarah
McCutcheon shared. “The reality is that
there is, unfortunately, a gap when it comes
to structured opportunities for young adults
with disabilities.”
“So much growth happens through everyday
moments,” McCutcheon said. “Trying
something new, showing up for a friend,
learning a new skill – they may seem small,
but they build con昀椀dence and independence
over time.”
Families in the community shared that they
were searching for more than daytime care
or activities. They wanted a place where their
loved ones could feel safe, connected, and
valued – somewhere they could continue
learning, building friendships, and growing in
con昀椀dence as they stepped into adulthood.
At the heart of Gesher are the relationships
formed along the way. Participants have
built friendships that extend beyond
program hours through social outings, texts,
FaceTimes, and shared activities throughout
the week. Families have shared how
meaningful it is to watch their loved ones
gain con昀椀dence, develop independence, and
experience a true sense of belonging.
In response, the JCC proudly launched
Gesher in 2025 – a newly licensed adult day
program for adults with disabilities rooted
in connection, growth, and belonging.
Named after the Hebrew word for “bridge,”
Gesher re昀氀ects the program’s mission to
help participants strengthen independence
while building meaningful relationships
and deeper connections to the community
around them.
For many participants, the JCC has become
a place where they are known by name,
encouraged to grow, and celebrated for who
they are. It’s a place where they are not just
included, but truly connected to something
larger than themselves. In every sense, it’s
become a place to belong.
Each day, participants engage in life
and vocational skill-building, volunteer
throughout the community, prioritize
health and wellness, and strengthen
social
connections
through
shared
experiences. Whether volunteering with
local organizations, learning a new 昀椀tness
skill, operating the sta昀昀 co昀昀ee cart, or simply
sharing lunch with friends, participants are
not on the sidelines of community life – they
are 昀椀rmly rooted as active, valued members
of it.
“We want every participant to walk through
our doors and immediately feel, ‘This is my
place,’” McCutcheon shared. “Because when
someone feels that sense of belonging, it
changes how they show up in the world and
what they believe is possible for themselves.”
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