Ramah is proud to offer vocational training for people with disabilities through our camps and our National Ramah Tikvah Network. In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2020, we present the second in a series of profiles of Ramah vocational education program participants.

“I like the consistency and predictability of my job. I like getting up every day and knowing what I will be doing. It’s repetitive and stable,” said Jacob Rebnord of his job at a Chicago law firm.

Jacob, 27, lives on his own and takes the five-mile bus ride to the firm, which specializes in intellectual property law. Jacob works in docketing, which means that he files documents and works almost exclusively on the computer. “Because of this, I can work remotely as needed,” Jacob said.

Jacob, who worked on Congressional campaigns before starting at the law firm in 2017, brings his ability to pay close attention to detail to his job. “The file numbers are usually between seven to eight digits long and you have to get them right,” he said.

He enjoys the level of responsibility involved in his work, as well as the opportunity to interact with his boss and others in his department. He makes an effort to be social with colleagues in other parts of the firm, as well.

“It’s tricky to deal with other people and their immediate demands,” Jacob admits. “I’m not always sure what they are looking for or need, so I ask them until I understand.”

Asking for clarification or repetition of instructions is a skill Jacob learned in Atzmayim, the Tikvah vocational program at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. He participated in the program in summer 2011, and during the subsequent three summers he was part of the camp’s staff, working in the camp office.

“I learned a lot at Ramah — things like working in a team environment, having one another’s back, and stepping up to help when things get hectic and work overtime,” Jacob said.

He also learned important lessons about the need to be flexible and improvise in real-life work situations. “Sometimes you have to just figure out what to do and do it on your own if no protocol exists,” he said.

- Renee Ghert-Zand

Jacob Rebnord: Law and Order