Association for Adults With Developmental Disabilities - AADD

Association for Adults With Developmental Disabilities - AADD Supporting You, Then, Now and Always.

Association for Adults with Developmental Disabilities' (AADD) mission is to provide education, discussion, and social activities that empower adults with developmental disabilities to live more independent lives while helping to support caregivers and helping to increase acceptance of special needs in our community. AADD creates secure environments where members develop the vital skills for lifelong independence—from employment, healthy eating, arranging transportation and managing personal finances, to forming and maintaining friendships and understanding the intricacies of public etiquette. Our programs help members break the chains of social isolation as they learn to maneuver through our complex world, helping them gain the self-confidence, pride, and greater independence that can lead to a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.

On this MLK Day of Service, we are reminded that “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”We are so gratefu...
01/19/2026

On this MLK Day of Service, we are reminded that “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”

We are so grateful to everyone who made our Day of Service meaningful — even in the snow! A heartfelt thank you to Cindy & Jordyn Dannenbaum, Margie McClaren from Beat It Beads (www.beatitbeads.com), and Sharon Rhodes from HELPING The Homeless (helpingthehomelessbackpacks.com) for sharing their time, heart, and incredible missions with our community.

Thank you to Wawa and Wegmans for keeping everyone fueled with snacks and smiles.

JCHAI & AADD members volunteered alongside community members — packing 50 backpacks, creating 92 bracelets, and making hundreds of Kindness Cards for Operation Gratitude, JRA, and Caring For Friends. Volunteerism builds skills, confidence, and pathways to future employment.

To all of our amazing volunteers who braved the weather — thank you for showing up with kindness and compassion. Together, we honored Dr. King’s legacy through service.

AADD & JCHAI’s New Year’s Eve Celebration!🎉 Tonight some of our members & staff chose to ring in the New Year in style a...
01/01/2026

AADD & JCHAI’s
New Year’s Eve Celebration!🎉

Tonight some of our members & staff chose to ring in the New Year in style aboard The Spirit of Philadelphia! They enjoyed a delicious buffet, festive décor, dancing, and beautiful fireworks over the Delaware River to end the night!

It was the perfect way to end 2025 & welcome 2026—friends, fun, community, and new memories to cherish.

Cheers to a bright new year ahead!

🎉 2025 wRAP Up 🎉As we wrap up the year, we’re celebrating another impactful year of connection, growth, and community at...
12/23/2025

🎉 2025 wRAP Up 🎉

As we wrap up the year, we’re celebrating another impactful year of connection, growth, and community at AADD. Through our RAP (Real Life Active Peer Participation) groups, adults with developmental disabilities and differences built meaningful friendships, supported one another, and strengthened real-life skills in safe, welcoming spaces.

This year and looking ahead, our members are engaging in programs that support independence and confidence — including EmpowerU wellness programming, financial literacy workshops in partnership with TD Bank, upcoming Safe Circles education, and First Aid & CPR training opportunities. These experiences help our members grow stronger, safer, and more self-directed in their daily lives.

As we look toward the year ahead, we’re excited to continue expanding these programs and reaching more adults across our communities. An end-of-year, tax-deductible gift to AADD helps ensure that RAP and our skill-building programs continue to grow and thrive.

Thank you to our incredible members, families, staff, volunteers, and donors for believing in inclusion, friendship, and opportunity!

Donate today and help our programs continue growing. https://aaddpa.org/donate-now/

Yesterday, members of AADD, JCHAI, Keneseth Israel, and our community came together for our inclusive monthly program Co...
12/05/2025

Yesterday, members of AADD, JCHAI, Keneseth Israel, and our community came together for our inclusive monthly program Cooking for a Cause — and it was our biggest one yet!

This month, we cooked for the Jenkintown Food Cupboard, preparing almost 300 meatballs, trays of penne pasta, and dozens of chocolate chip cookies that will be delivered to local homebound seniors.

We were honored to have Lino, the Executive Director of the Jenkintown Food Cupboard, stop by and share more about their vital work and the impact of our meal. Hearing who we were cooking for made the experience even more meaningful.

A heartfelt thank-you to:
✨ Cantor Amy Levy for envisioning and championing this inspired initiative
✨ Sharon Rhodes for her incredible leadership each month
✨ The Katz Family Foundation & Sun East Foundation for generously supporting this important community program

Cooking, learning, friendship, community — that’s what Cooking for a Cause is all about. After all the hard work in the kitchen, everyone sat down to enjoy the delicious meal together. What an amazing night!

🍁🧡 Friendsgiving at AADD RAP 🧡🍁Last week, each of our three AADD RAP groups celebrated Friendsgiving in their own specia...
11/28/2025

🍁🧡 Friendsgiving at AADD RAP 🧡🍁

Last week, each of our three AADD RAP groups celebrated Friendsgiving in their own special way. While the celebrations happened separately, the message was the same everywhere—friendship, gratitude, and giving back.

🌟 Members brought donations for local food pantries, including the Willow Grove Baptist Food Pantry, Eldernet and Hamotzi Food Pantry, helping support neighbors in need this holiday season.

🥧🥤 Everyone also had the opportunity to bring something to eat or drink to share with their friends—and almost everyone did! The tables were filled with treats, laughter, and the true spirit of Friendsgiving.

What makes our RAP community so special isn’t just what we share… it’s how we show up for each other and for our community. 💛

Thank you to our incredible members, families, and staff for making this Friendsgiving meaningful and full of heart.

🍽️ Cooking for a Cause ❤️ Giving Back Together!Tonight at KI, members of AADD & JCHAI, along with wonderful community vo...
11/21/2025

🍽️ Cooking for a Cause ❤️ Giving Back Together!

Tonight at KI, members of AADD & JCHAI, along with wonderful community volunteers, came together for an inclusive cooking program with a purpose!

Together we made 12 pans of Corn Pudding and 8 Dutch Apple Pies to serve at the Hamotzi community dinner 🍎🥧—sharing comfort, nourishment, and love with those who need it most.

Before we got cooking, everyone introduced themselves and shared what they were grateful for. The most common answers?
👉 Family. Friends. Health.
💙 Proof that kindness and connection are the true ingredients of this program.

We also spent time learning about food insecurity and how small acts of service can make a big difference.

And after all the hard work… we enjoyed a delicious Hot Turkey Gobbler Friendsgiving dinner from Wawa — always a favorite! 🦃🥪

When we cook together, we care together.
When we serve together, we grow together.

Happy 9th Birthday to our friend Cole the Deaf Dog! 🥳🎉🎂🎈❤️
11/17/2025

Happy 9th Birthday to our friend Cole the Deaf Dog! 🥳🎉🎂🎈❤️

AADD had a wonderful painting party on Saturday! Everyine has a chance to put their creative spin a beautiful winter sce...
11/17/2025

AADD had a wonderful painting party on Saturday! Everyine has a chance to put their creative spin a beautiful winter scene. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious Wawa lunch (always a favorite!), and then learned how to sign “Happy Birthday” in ASL to our dear friend, Cole the Deaf Dog. 🐾💙
A perfect day of creativity, community, and celebration!

Yesterday, 50 AADD & JCHAI members and staff spent an incredible day together at Hershey Park! The weather was perfect, ...
11/09/2025

Yesterday, 50 AADD & JCHAI members and staff spent an incredible day together at Hershey Park! The weather was perfect, there were rides for everyone—from thrill seekers to easy cruisers, animals in Zoo America, games, meeting the characters, enjoying yummy food, and of course… chocolate!!

It was day full of laughter, hanging with new & old friends and making sweet memories! 💕

Members of our Main Line RAP group gathered at Golden Bowl restaurant in Ardmore for “Dinner with the Director” on Tuesd...
11/05/2025

Members of our Main Line RAP group gathered at Golden Bowl restaurant in Ardmore for “Dinner with the Director” on Tuesday evening. 37 members and AADD staff enjoyed a delicious four-course meal (including birthday cupcakes & fortune cookies), engaged in friendly conversation, practiced proper restaurant etiquette, and proudly represented AADD in the local community.
During dinner, Rachel presented new AADD sweatshirts to members who raised over $500 for our recent Key to Friendship fundraiser. Way to go!
We realized something special about the Main Line RAP Group - we have both the longest standing AADD member and the newest AADD member! Harriet L. was one of the *original founding members* and has been with the group for 52 years. And our newest member, Luke, has been with us now for just several weeks.
AADD is privileged to support friendships across all ages and stages of adulthood!

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261 Old York Road, Ste 530
Jenkintown, PA
19046

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+12158869990

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Our Story

Association Adults with Developmental Disabilities’ (AADD) mission is to provide education, discussion, and social learning activities that empower special needs men and women 18 years and older to live more independent lives while helping to support caregivers and helping to increase acceptance of special needs in our community. AADD creates secure environments where members develop the vital skills for lifelong independence – from employment, healthy eating, arranging transportation and managing personal finances to forming and maintaining friendships and understanding the intricacies of public etiquette. Our program helps members break the chains of social isolation as they strive to maneuver through our complex world, assisting them to gain the self-confidence, pride, and greater independence that can lead to a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.

Association Adults with Developmental Disabilities (AADD) believes that social interaction is at the heart of the human experience. Yet, some of the simple activities many of us take for granted — a ride on the bus, a trip to the store, a phone call from a friend, a meal at a restaurant — are significant accomplishments for men and women with developmental disabilities. Our ultimate outcome is members’ enhanced independence, self-pride, social and behavioral skills.

This organization started as a group of concerned parents of children with developmental disabilities and their lives after high school graduation. Now, 45 years later, AADD has become an important resource for local families aiming to ensure social opportunity and personal growth for their children. We improved our members’ life skills and provided positive, social experiences through providing weekly sessions led by professionals and hosting various weekend activities every week. Members also take an annual vacation together every year!