DDD Approved

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came… We all want to feel part of something, important, and valued.  Staff will work as community wingman” with the goal of clients becoming familiar with people and places in the local community, being recognized and greeted when they enter the local business, and developed circles of social networks within the immediate area. Building lasting and authentic relationships is crucial to a sense of community belonging and self-confidence in social interactions. We will connect with the local area to establish a supportive, understanding and respectful, and inclusive community environment. 

Skills of wellness, self-care, safety, and anxiety management all are necessary to participate as an independent and functioning adult in a variety of community settings.  Themes such as sleep, nutrition, basic medical needs, and first aid, relaxation, mindfulness, self-awareness, emergency procedures,  accessing community resources, and being safe in the community are learned and practiced in a variety of settings and experiences. It is important to be able to access and transfer these crucial safety and security skills when under stress and are increasingly independent in using them when the need arises. 

Learning on the move! This community-based course covers providing a multitude of meaningful experiences in a wide variety of settings. Daily living, academic, work, and functional skills will be used in natural community settings such as stores, banks, doctors' offices, parks, restaurants, post offices, and malls to provide relevant and applicable learning opportunities. Every skill is embedded in functional and transferable use and mastered concepts are applied to increasingly wider community settings. We only truly know something when it can be generalized over and over. All applied skills will be relevant to the individual, facilitate independence, be age-appropriate, and in natural and integrative environments. 

Many of our clients are accustomed to excessive help and support from others due to their unique challenges but ultimately crave to help others as well. A sense of confidence and competency coincides with feeling like you can help others and make a difference in the world. Being able to see tangible results that have an impact on their community lends itself to feelings of inclusion, independence, and a sense of agency. The group will design, communicate intent, map out the steps, secure resources, problem-solve around, and execute a determined community volunteer project. 

Clients participate in skills of daily living in order to be increasingly independent and inclusive at home, in the community, and in work settings. In order to be fewer people and prompt dependant as well as feel a sense of belonging, worth, and competency we all need to be able to have some control over our daily functioning. Skills range from cleaning and maintaining our facility, keeping grocery lists and shopping, planning social events, making basic repairs such as changing batteries and light bulbs, maintaining the grounds, beautification projects, to decorating and design. This is their facility and they need to own it, be proud of it, and contribute to it as owners and valued members of the community.