Day Habilitation Services
Day programs for adults who are OPWDD-approved
Where there are places to go and people to meet
Every day is a new opportunity for fulfillment
Every individual, no matter their circumstance or level of ability, has a chance to thrive at Hamaspik Day Habs. There are five separate programs for both men and women in several locations around Brooklyn, New York that cater to OPWDD-approved adults of various levels of ability. Each Day Hab is a happy and happening place where individuals can learn, connect with friends, be productive, and interact with the community.
A peek at Hamaspik’s Day Hab programs
Achoseinu Academy
Achoseinu Academy is a seminary-style program where every woman is empowered to be the best she can be. It is here at Achoseinu that individuals learn new things every day and put their skills into practice, getting a chance to give back to the community in the process.
The day is structured into one-hour periods where subjects like sewing, cooking, computers, hashkafah, money management, English studies, and social skills are taught. Exciting programs like GO keep the members on their toes and motivated to do their best.
The day the women get to work at real job sites is a highlight of their week. Sometimes they work at local stores — pricing and packaging items, while socializing with store owners and customers. Hands down, their favorite workplace is at Spark Library, a beautiful community library created and run exclusively by the women of Achoseinu. The women take great pride in managing this valuable resource that is enjoyed by the whole community.
Program:
- Higher-functioning women
- Age : 18+
- Location: Williamsburg
Hours:
- Sunday Talent Program: 10am-3pm
- Mon-Thurs: 9am-4pm
- Fri: 9am-1:30pm
- Open legal holidays
Women’s Day Hab, Boro Park
This Day Hab program is designed for OPWDD-approved women who require a higher degree of individualized care.
The daily schedule is filled with engaging activities like social time, sensory play, and crafting. Many of the women enjoy participating in meal preparation. Our goal is to give each individual a well-rounded experience and maintain their basic skills in ways aligned with their interests and capabilities.
Weekly outings include favorite local spots like the ice cream store and parks, and full-day trips to places like the mall or aquarium. The dedicated staff works hard to create a warm and rich learning program, focusing on Yomim Tovim and Yiddishkeit, and fostering a sense of community and connection.
Program:
- Lower-functioning women
- Age : 18+
- Location: Boro Park
Hours:
- Mon-Thurs: 9am-4pm
- Fri: 9am-1:30pm
- Open legal holidays
Men’s Day Hab, Boro Park
At the Boro Park Men's Day Hab, days are filled with learning, camaraderie, and energy. Davening together in their very own minyan is an empowering way to start the day, and the individuals take leading roles as sheliach tzibbur and baal korei with great pride.
The schedule is varied and well-rounded, and the program is tailored to each individual's needs and capabilities. Activities include in-house cooking sessions, swimming and exercise classes at the local Y, and educational trips. Therapists and social workers provide on-site sessions, tapping into the potential of each individual.
Participants integrate within the community by working at local retail businesses. When they see their own families purchasing the items they helped pack and stock, they are excited to share that they had a hand in the process.
Program:
- Medium to high-functioning men with special needs
- Age : 18+
- Location: Boro Park
Hours:
- Sun: 10am-3pm
- Mon-Thurs: 9am-4pm
- Fri: 9am-1:30pm
- Open legal holidays
Men’s Day Hab, Williamsburg
The Men’s Day Hab of Williamsburg is geared toward OPWDD-approved individuals who are less capable, often less mobile, and therefore require more assistance. The Day Hab runs a full program that focuses on maintaining vital daily living skills and maximizing each individual’s abilities. The daily schedule includes sensory-based activities, skill-building, davening, and singing led by a dedicated staff.
Although most individuals are in wheelchairs, the staff members make sure to take them on outings every week so they get a chance to get out and interact with the community.
Program:
- Lower-functioning men
- Age : 18+
- Location: Williamsburg
Hours:
- Sun: 10am-3pm
- Mon-Thurs: 9am-4pm
- Fri: 9am-1:30pm
- Open legal holidays
Day Hab Yeshivah
The Day Hab Yeshivah is a unique Day Hab program where individuals learn, engage within the community, and develop their independence. This Day Hab without walls for young men is designed to mirror a traditional yeshivah experience, so the individuals spend their days doing what their brothers and neighbors do. Just like every other man in the community, the men of the Day Hab Yeshivah begin their mornings with davening Shacharis in a local shul. The men exercise their independence and self-sufficiency by arriving on their own and preparing their own breakfast and lunch daily.
The curriculum includes the study of parshah, mishnayos, and halachah, among other subjects. Once a week the men visit the Hamaspik office buildings where they stock the kitchens and engage with the staff. They also participate in communal chessed, packaging food for Yad Ephraim to send out to hospitals.
We work to find suitable employment for each individual that utilizes their capabilities. One participant was able to land a job as an assistant in a Hamaspik after-school program, highlighting the Day Habs dedication to allowing each member to truly maximize his potential.
Program:
- Higher-functioning men
- Age : 18+
- Location: Boro Park
Hours:
- Sun: 10am-3pm
- Mon-Thurs: 9am-4pm
- Fri: 9am-1:30pm
- Open legal holidays
Work-Focused Day Hab, Boro Park
Tailored for clients who thrive in a structured work environment, this program centers around a steady packaging job. It offers an exciting environment where participants can socialize with peers and integrate into the community. It also includes trips, special Shabbatons, and an 8-week summer program upstate.
Program:
- High-functioning men
- Age : 21+
- Location: Boro Park
Hours:
- Sun-Thurs: 9am-5pm
- Fri: 9am-1pm
Day Habs designed to address the needs of each individual
Culturally sensitive staff
Supervised social
interaction
Fresh food
On-site professional therapy
Transportation
Spark Library
Please stop by our library:
Library Hours:
| Sunday | 1:30pm–3:00 pm | |
| Tuesday | 4:00pm–6:00 pm | |
| Wednesday | 11:00am–1:00 pm | |
| Thursday | 8:00pm–9:30 pm |
If you live in Williamsburg, we invite you to visit the Spark Library. You’ll find a fully stocked library with comfy couches and cozy nooks — a place where you and your children can kick back and relax with a good book. This library is proudly run by the capable and confident young women of Achoseinu Academy, who put their skills and talents to work for the community.
The women work together, each one filling a role that speaks to their strengths. The detail-oriented women arrange the books and put returns back onto the correct shelf, while the ones who are good with numbers handle the money and transactions. Those who have an affinity for tech will work the computer system, while the extroverts man the phones and help the customers find books.
They’ll also rotate through different roles, allowing each to explore and develop a variety of skills, enriching their capabilities and fostering a sense of community and cooperation.
With new books arriving each season, the library is a popular hub for the community. It is especially heartwarming and beautiful to see how much the visitors enjoy interacting with the library staff, treating them with so much respect and encouragement.
The hearts behind the service
Yehuda Spangelet
Director of Day Services
“Our primary goal is to provide for all our participants’ physical needs. Then there’s fostering growth, building skills, integrating them into the community, and creating enjoyable experiences, every day. But above all, the program is designed to give every individual a chance to achieve their maximum potential."
Esther Taub
Henny Lang
Chaim Lowy
Ruchy Kohn
Miriam Herman
Devora Stok, LMSW
Interested in attending one ofour Day Habs?
While some of our Day Habs are already at maximum capacity,
others may have open slots. Please reach out so we can guide
you through the application process.
You need to be OPWDD-approved to qualify for this program.
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You're doing all you can — and yet you always feel like you're failing someone.
Watching your other children navigate their sibling’s challenges can leave you feeling sad or helpless. This guide by Dr. Sora Yaroslowitz — a parenting expert, and herself the mother of a child with special needs — gives you tested tools to ease resentment and strengthen siblings' connection.
You’ll discover:
• How to respond when a child asks, “Can’t we just be normal?” (and the exact words to help ease their frustration)
• The common mistake parents make when trying to “make it up” to siblings (and what actually works instead)
• Ways to help siblings move from frustration to empathy (illustrated by a powerful real sibling story)
