J-ADD was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1986, with the goal of serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Northern New Jersey Jewish community.  

The agency was the brainstorm of prominent UJA Federation Board members, Dr. Sandra O. Gold and Inge Wettreich, who responded to a growing need from families within the Jewish (and non-Jewish) community for services for their family members with developmental disabilities within the community. After advocating within the community for funding and with the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division for Developmental Disabilities for approval, the first Kosher group home in New Jersey under the auspices of the then United Jewish Community of Bergen County Association for Developmental Disabilities (now J-ADD) was established and our first home was opened in Englewood for six young men and women, many of whom still live in J-ADD homes today.