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Life Skills Habilitation |
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"Living Our Dreams"
VTDC’s Life Skills Habilitation Programs, with sites in
Seneca and Shippenville, are designed for individuals with multiple and
sever disabilities, who are unable to participate in the larger work-oriented
Work Activities (sheltered workshop) Programs.
The Life Skills Program is based on a “Person Centered
Plan” process, whereby each individual’s own interests and choices are
incorporated into their programming needs.
The
ultimate goal for each Life Skills participant is to work toward developing a
circle of support within the community so the individual can experience a more
independent and meaningful lifestyle.
Life Skills is staffed by trained and dedicated Life Skills
Coaches. The Coaches work with
participants in the facility teaching daily living skills such as cooking or
baking, laundry, and personal hygiene, to the extent of the participants’
capabilities.
Other
facility-based opportunities are available to the trainees such as simulated or
contracted work for the Work Activities Program, a variety of games, puzzles, sensory stimulating items and
cognitive-motor skill tasks. Trainees
also enjoy looking at books or magazines and having articles of interest read to
them by staff, working on art and craft projects, listening to music, watching
videos, exercising, socializing and just relaxing.
There are sensory rooms located at both the Seneca and
Shippenville sites that provide more opportunities for the more severely disabled
individuals. Each site has a picnic
table and outdoor yard area accessible to participants in the summer.
VTDC’s Life Skills Habilitation Program is unique in that
the program strongly emphasizes daily community integration activities, in
addition to facility-based instruction. Some
of our typical community activities include bowling at the local bowling alleys,
swimming and basketball at the YMCAs, Bingo at the Local Moose Club, eating out,
shopping, walking on the bike trail and at the Clarion, Cranberry and DuBois
Malls, VARHA (therapeutic horseback riding program), visiting area nursing
homes, and
having a picnic at the local park.
In
addition, we enjoy special trips throughout the year to places such as
Kraynak’s for Easter and Christmas, Erie Zoo, World of Mazes, Venango Museum,
a ride on the OC & T train, and the local and state parks, especially Cooks
Forest State Park and the Farmers Inn Restaurant.
At Life Skills we are always looking for new and exciting places to visit
and activities to do.