Joshua Tree Community enriches lives of adults with disabilities
When intellectually disabled students reach the age of 22, they're cut off from state funding that provided them with an education and vocational skills. Many don't know where to turn, but in Geneva, The Joshua Tree Community is changing that.
Former special education teacher Amy Singer founded The Joshua Tree Community in 2014 and has worked with volunteers to create a program that incorporates learning, fitness and recreation. Currently, 14 intellectually disabled individuals pay $50 per day to participate. Seven are Singer's former students.
“They're the best students you could have,” Singer, a St. Charles resident, said. “They don't want to leave school, but they've all aged out of public education.”
Based in Geneva at St. Mark's Church, participants gather from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. p.m. weekdays for activities like stuffing envelopes at the Northern Illinois Food Bank and attending theater performances. They have a book club, yoga classes, art workshops and more.
“Some programs are just for recreation, but we're also focused on learning,” Singer said. “Today we went to see the movie ‘Sing,' and then we had our Unturned Stone Book Club. You know, we're busy every day.”
Parents
Matthew Wicks of Aurora appreciates Joshua Tree because it provides his 25-year-old autistic son a social environment once a week.
“Alonzo is reasonably high functioning along the autistic spectrum, but his disabilities are great enough that he will never be able to live independently,” Wicks said.
“He's able to establish friendships, and whether he's going to a movie, or playing games, or going out to a restaurant — and sometimes they do service-oriented activities — it's a great opportunity for him to be involved and connected.”
Volunteers
The Joshua Tree Community would not be successful without assistance from volunteers and the community. Donations have come in from various companies, including Geneva Community Chest, and Hoofbeats and Heartbeats, which gave Joshua Tree a scholarship for six individuals to enjoy a horse riding camp.
“There have been a lot of connections,” Singer said. “We asked for grants and that's how they heard about us.”
In addition, St. Mark's Church members have helped, and Singer's son, Reggie Whiting, a 23-year-old business and marketing major at Northern Illinois University, set up the website, joshuatreecommunity.com.
“He helps me with everything that pertains to technology,” Singer said.
Volunteers are needed to teach skills, eat lunch, and walk to the library with the group.
Founder/director of Whole Life Whole Yoga Sachiko Eubanks of Geneva leads a yoga class at Joshua Tree on Wednesday mornings. She wanted to give the gift of yoga to people who did not have easy access to classes.
“Yoga would help Joshua Tree students cope with anxiety and would help them to calm down and relax,” Eubanks said. “Also, some students have muscular weakness so, for them, yoga would develop the strength and balance in their bodies.”
Participants
Hollie Konrady, 29, of Montgomery has Carpenter's Syndrome and has been attending The Joshua Tree Community for two years. She loves the field trips, games — especially Wii Bowling — and book club.
“I get to spend time with my friends and I get to learn how to do new things,” Konrady said. “We get an opportunity to give back something to our community, like work with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Salvation Army.”
Konrady credits The Joshua Tree Community for helping her to learn new skills, like ironing, and improving her reading skills. She said one thing the community should know about intellectually disabled people is that they are just like everyone else.
“We are just differently abled, not disabled,” she said. “We might need more time to do things, or need a different way to do things, but we can still do them.”
How you can help
<b>Donate:</b> Monetary donations are welcomed and can be mailed to The Joshua Tree Community, 320 Franklin St., Geneva, IL 60134. Donate online via PayPal at <a href="http://www.joshuatreecommunity.com/donate/">joshuatreecommunity.com</a>.
The Joshua Tree Community is currently saving money to purchase a passenger van. Any donations would be appreciated.
<b>Volunteer:</b> Volunteers are needed mornings or afternoons Monday through Friday to go out to lunch, walk to the library, play games or share a skill or craft through teaching a class. Contact Amy Singer at (630) 485-1064 or email amysinger@joshuatreecommunity.com.