DEFINITION:  Work Activity Center/Adult Development is one of the programs of Abilities Unlimited of Jonesboro, Inc. for adults (age 21 or older or graduated from public school activities or have a certificate of completion) who are mentally retarded and/or developmentally disabled who have an identified need for these specialized services.  In order to participate in this program the individual usually will have an average productivity below the 50% level of what a non-handicapped worker can produce.  The program operates on a 12-month basis, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 2725 N. Church, 311 Union, and our Paragould location.  A unit of service is 1 hour and can be a  maximum of 5 hours for each component and a total combination up to 8 hours.

The consumers are involved in various activities which address certain needs in direct work adjustment sessions in order to increase work skills, work habits, physical abilities and vocational capabilities; and the remaining time being spent in living skills, self-help skills, self-care, survival skills, and life adjustment.  Direct staff people work with this special group along with the program case manager including administrative and professional.Individualized Written Program Plans are used with each client in order to be able to work on very specific needs in conjunction with regular programming.  There are five essential core services that are addressed by this program.  They include transportation to and from the facility, habilitation training, case management, provision of a noon meal, and diagnosis and evaluation.

PROGRAM GOAL

The program goal of the WAC/AD is to provide special services and training that are planned and directed toward assisting each individual to develop social, educational, pre-vocational skills, vocational, and personal skills in order to achieve the best possible level of functioning in the community and progress toward more advanced programming such as supported employment.  Ultimately, it is intended to help the individual become totally or partially self-supportive and more self-sufficient through center based programming in a challenging but sheltered environment.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Some of the objectives of the WAC/AD program are:  to assist in personal and social development; to increase average productivity; to provide specific services directed toward assisting the individual to achieve independent living skills and self-sufficiency; to reduce or control the effects of barriers; to provide community based care; to assist the person to become self-supportive to the greatest extent possible; and to reduce or prevent dependency.  These objectives are met through work adjustment sessions which includes various work task assignments and classroom assignments which deals with those topics that are not necessarily indigenous to the work training setting.
 
 

Back to Developmental Disabilities Services

HOME