From the June 2026 issue of Washington Jewish Journal.
Shua Hoffman moved with his family from Silver Spring to Monsey, New York five years ago. While he loved his 21 years living in Maryland, his family moved for greater access to services for people with specialized needs. That brought Shua to the Makor College Experience where, last week, he marched down at Arthur Ashe Stadium with his peers at Yeshiva University’s 95th Annual Commencement.
The Makor College Experience is a four-year, non-degree program for young men with Intellectual Disability on the Wilf campus of Yeshiva University in New York. The program provides individuals with Intellectual Disability the opportunity to be part of the YU community while gaining skills and exploring opportunities as they transition to lives of independence.
“Yeshiva University is so much more than just a yeshiva or just a college. For many, it is the next stage in their lives as members of the Jewish community, a stage that, until we opened ten years ago, people with specialized needs were excluded from,” says Dr. Stephen Glicksman, founder and director of the Makor College Experience. “We recognized that while our participants’ cognitive challenges are disabling when it comes to the academic parts of college, they are not disabling for all of the other parts of college like campus life, joining clubs, and making friends.”
The Makor College Experience
The Makor College Experience is technically a “Day Habilitation Without Walls” program operated by Makor Care & Services Network, a lifespan social services organization supporting individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities since 1978. Makor approached Yeshiva University with the idea of opening a college experience program and the two institutions have worked in partnership to make this program a reality.
While inclusion is an important part of the program, developing a healthy self-identity is also a major aspect of participants’ growth throughout their four-year stay. As Dr. Glicksman puts it, “We want the inclusion to be real. We aren’t a chesed program. That’s why we have our own shiur in the morning, and our own classes in the afternoon. That way, when our guys join the rest of YU at the gym, at a club, learning in the Beit Midrash, or just hanging out, they can join their peers as equals because, in those contexts, their diagnoses don’t necessarily impact their capabilities to the same degree they would in an academic setting.”
“A dream come true”
For Shua, the Makor College Experience is, as he puts it, “…a dream come true. I love the program, because it’s made me realize my potential and what I can give to the world. I love the Torah classes, and all the people I’ve met. I take music with Mr. Meth and he helps me with composing and brightening the world through song. I’ve learned how to be a leader. I love living in the Makor apartments and bonding with the guys. It has really helped me become more independent. In psychology class, I’ve learned skills for getting along better with people without blowing things out of proportion. Some things are still a challenge for me, but I see how much I’ve grown. All of my teachers are the best of the best. All in all, it’s been a great journey and a great four years!”
Shua’s parents agree: “Makor has given Shua the ability to tap into his strengths and to be able to also be in touch with reality, which has helped him grow into a more mature and productive person. We are very appreciative of the entire staff for what they’ve done and being able to help Shua become that confident person he is.”
As for Shua, his advice for those looking to grow, either within the Makor College Experience or wherever you happen to find yourself, is, “Take one day at a time, and strive for greatness. You should be matzliach and I hope all goes well!”
