Our Goal is to Improve the Lives of the Clients We Serve

 

We offer a wide range of skills based and social/recreational programs for teens and adults with disabilities.  These programs contribute to: 

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• Gaining skills: Increasing the skills of clients, including life skills, prevocational job skills, self advocacy, communication and socialization skills.

• Cultivating and sustaining friendships: Real friendships are developed with other program participants.  People with and without disabilities learn with and from each other in inclusive environments.

• Leading full, meaningful lives:  Parents and caregivers want their children and individuals they care for to be accepted by their peers, have friends and lead full lives. Our programs contribute to making this vision a reality for many individuals with disabilities. It gives families the opportunity to witness the impact of social inclusion and engagement.

• Respite for parents and caregivers:  61 percent of our caregivers say there are not sufficient respite opportunities available to them. We see our programs fill to 100 percent capacity within weeks of opening registration. Parents going on a date night or caregivers taking a dance class are just two examples of how we see respite put to good use.

 

 

While our programs are always fun, there are specific benefits to participants which include:

 

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• Team building activities:  Enhance a participant's ability to communicate and work in a group setting to accomplish specific tasks teaching them about cooperation and collaboration.  Working side-by-side allows them to learn to understand someone else's point of view. 

• Creativity:  Arts & Crafts are structured towards sensory integration such as touch, taste, smell, or sight. By giving participants the opportunity to investigate materials with no preconceived knowledge, we are contributing to them developing and refining their cognitive, social, emotional, physical, creative, and linguistic skill sets.

• Independence:  Arguably one of most beneficial aspects of camp is the independence and freedom of being away from one’s normal often structured environment for days at a time.

• Acquiring social skills: Individuals with disabilities are more likely to develop social skills necessary to develop relationships when participating in inclusive recreation opportunities.

• Improving Attitudes: People often develop positive attitudes about diverse individuals as a result of joint participation in activities.

• Developing life-long skills: Through the presence of appropriate inclusion recreation options, the development of life-long functional recreation skills is promoted.

• Enhancing Image: The image of a person with disabilities is higher with inclusive participation as opposed to segregated participation. During these programs our disabled participants program among other members of the community.

• Increasing Understanding: Exposure to inclusive leisure services results in a greater understanding and acceptance of individuals of varying backgrounds and abilities.

• Developing Acceptance: People can learn new ways to solve problems and adapt to difference, develop more positive attitudes toward those who are different, and increase acceptance of people in general.

 

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Program Service Numbers

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• In the last year we nearly tripled our program hours and client service numbers.

 

• In 2021 alone, we achieved our goal to serve more than 234 unduplicated clients through 436.5 program hours that included social enrichment programs, pre-employment camps, partnership programs with the community, and residential camps in the wilderness.

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