Jonah’s Circle brings his community together

By Wendy Singer

Jonah Davis Yanofsky’s Circle of Support was created in March 2021, three months after his father Joel Yanofsky passed away at the age of 65. While his parents had been interested in creating a circle after learning about Judith Snow’s concept of Circles of Support, it was the gravity of this loss that made Jonah’s mother, Cynthia Davis, take action.

“I have the day-to-day plus the long-term concern about what will happen to Jonah if I can’t take care of him. After losing my husband, I find when I get sick, even if it is just a cold, I start to panic about Jonah’s future,” said Davis.

Before she created “Jonah’s Circle,” Davis analyzed who and which organizations populate Jonah’s four circles (Intimacy, Friendship, Participation, Economic Exchange – see p. 12). She clearly saw the need to develop Jonah’s intimacy and friendship circles. “Jonah has no peers who he can call, so there’s room for improvement. Until a few years ago, his intimacy circle included six family members. Only two, including myself, are still alive today. This speaks to the necessity of building a little village around him,” she said.

An active 22-year-old that has autism, Jonah attended Hampstead Elementary School of the English Montreal School Board and Summit School. He now attends the Filion Adult Education Program of the Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys.

He has diverse interests including outdoor sports and music and participates in many programs, including the Centre of the Arts and Human Development and the Shira Choir.

Jonah’s Circle currently operates as a private Facebook group which, in August, had 19 members. Members include people from Jonah’s Exchange Circle that he has strong relationships with family, trustworthy friends, and a legal team.

As the group’s facilitator, Davis has begun introducing and engaging members online with Trivial Pursuit nights (a game she and her son play regularly). “Jonah is involved in so many groups, but the only thing connecting them was me,” she said. “Now if something should happen to me, people will know each other and Jonah’s connections.”

Davis is figuring out Jonah’s Circle as she moves forward. “It’s a work in progress, but we’re off to a good start,” she said. “It helps me to know that we’re not alone.

“The more overwhelmed you are the more you need the support of caring people,” added Davis, understanding how it feels to be completely overwhelmed. She encourages families to read Judith Snow’s book What’s Really Worth Doing and How To Do It, analyze your child’s circles (with a caution that circles can overlap, and it can be confusing at first). See where the needs are and speak about them with the key people. “This is not an academic exercise. It’s something to do to help your child and gather resources around you,” said Davis.

Being a circle member makes a huge impact

Jonathan Shrier is a member of Jonah’s Circle. A professional musician and music teacher by extension, Shrier first met Jonah Davis Yanofsky at Camp B’Nai Brith’s Avodah program in the summer of 2019. One evening after watching him perform at camp, Jonah’s mother Cynthia Davis asked Shrier to teach her son once a week. “My friendship with Jonah blossomed and since then we’ve developed a close relationship that is focused on music,” said Shrier. Together, the duo has written nearly 10 songs that express Jonah’s thoughts, worries and what he’s excited about. “Jonah inspires me every day to be better at what I do.” From what Shrier has learned, he is planning on bringing song writing to a greater audience.

Shrier describes Jonah’s Circle as a group of close friends. “We meet and share information and the joy of being around Jonah. Between all of us we can always ensure that Jonah has a program to go to, fun things to do and people to talk to,” said Shrier. “Jonah’s Circle is filled with people to reach out to when things are okay and not okay, who are willing to step in should something happen.”

Jonathan Shrier, left, and Jonah Davis Yanofsky enjoying a music session at Cynthia Davis’ art studio in NDG in January 2021. Photo: Jonathan Shrier