Monroe Township Community Affairs held its Adults With Disabilities summer dance party at the Pfeiffer Community Center on July 17.
Participants with a wide range of disabilities danced in a safe, judgment-free environment where they felt comfortable being themselves. That atmosphere was the goal of Brandi Adler, the township’s Community Affairs clerk and mother of a 13-year-old son with autism.
Along with staff and volunteers, Adler wants to hold more of the dances quarterly given positive feedback from the recent event. Along with adult dances, Community Affairs organizes dances for children with disabilities several times a year.
“The kids with disabilities started probably two or three years ago,” Adler explained. “The adults with disabilities started last year, and there was such a need for it. You know, a need for the community to come together, have fun, with no ridicule and no judgment.”
Adults with disabilities who live outside Monroe Township also attended the summer dance.
“We have residents coming from different towns,” Adler explained, “only because a lot of towns don’t do this for their community.”
As the parent of an autistic child, Adler has a unique perspective on how community events can help enhance social skills and development.
“This helps with socializing, hanging out with their peers, helping with their social skills,” she noted. “It’s also helping with their proprioception.” (Often called the “sixth sense,” proprioception is the subconscious awareness of body position and movement in space.)
“It’s engaging all of their senses: their sight, sound and smell.” Adler added. “They’re getting out and they’re having a great time.”
Community Affairs also organizes an Autism Awareness Day at the community center in April for residents and non-residents.
“We’ve gotten people from as far away as Delaware and Pennsylvania,” Adler enthused. “We also did a ribbon-cutting a few weeks ago for our all-inclusive park … so our disabled community can come out and have a good time. The park has been thriving since it opened.”
Adler’s supervisor, Brandee Derieux, also has a son with autism and inspired Adler to organize activities for people with disabilities. For her part, Adler wants to see more activities available for that population.
“There’s not enough out there,” she maintained, “so we’ve kind of taken on being the hub for that, and hopefully we’re jump starting other communities to do the same thing.”
Community Affairs Director Donna Park praised Adler’s commitment to providing activities and saw the enthusiasm expressed by parents and their children during the dances.
“I think it’s helped them in many ways,” she related. “Number one, they’re coming out of their shell. I feel that socially they’re communicating more. Even for me, after being here the last four years in this position, they know who I am now.”
Resident Barbara Feliciano, whose 27-year-old son, Armando, has a disability, considers the activities offered by the Pfeiffer Community Center a blessing. Armando was born and raised in Williamstown, so having a support system in his hometown is very important to his mother.
“To see them step up to the plate and offer such an amazing event for our community, where opportunities become very limited after age 18 – and especially after age 21 – it’s a godsend for us,” Feliciano said.
Senthil Muthiah is excited to attend the dances and make new friends.
“I also love the fact that I get to bring my homemade desserts and share them with everybody,” he stated. “I have so much fun here. It’s a blast, and I would bring more friends here as well.”
Senthil Muthiah (left to right) Brandi Adler, Barbara Feliciano, Armando Feliciano, Donna Park, Deb DeFelice and Jaci Derieux at the community center’s summer dance for Adults With Disabilities on July 17.
