For many adults with Intellectual disabilities, finding activities during the day can be a challenge after high school graduation. In many cases, lack of funding is the biggest barrier to obtaining services. Unfortunately, many day support programs require Medicaid Waiver funding. This funding may require placement on a waiting list depending on the state. People can remain on the list for over 10 years in some cases. Parents often struggle to maintain employment due to having to provide supervision at home for their adult children.
Parents sometimes have to leave their adult children with disabilities
at home alone for extended periods of time. This can be a scary situation for
parents and caregivers. When work is not an option, clients and case managers
turn to day support programs to provide a safe place for socialization and
community activities.
What Day Programs Provide
Center-Based
Activities- Day support programs can provide a number of center- based
activities. Day Support programs are typically set up in a number of different
rooms. These rooms are usually organized to have people with similar levels of
disability be in the same area.
Many programs have rooms for specific activities such as a
game room or a computer room. I have even seen day programs with a salon set up
for spa days. Some of the primary center-based activities include:
Arts and Crafts
Movies
Exercise
Reading and Writing
Games
Group Activities
Special Parties for holidays
Community-Based
Activities- Day support also provide opportunities for community
integration. Community –based programs spend most of their day engaged in
community activities. Center- based programs still tend to go out at a minimum
around twice a week. Community based activities often consist of some of the
following:
Bowling
Movies
Dining out
Museums
Shopping
Transportation- Some
programs provide their own transportation services. This means that the program
picks the clients up from their homes and transports them back home in the
evening. This transportation is in addition to transportation to and from
various activities. Clients and families enjoy this additional services because
transportation is much more reliable.
Advantages
Socialization- Day
programs provide opportunities for daily socialization outside of the group
home and/or everyday family members. Day support programs offer a great
alternative for those that are not able to work due to their level of
disability.
Skill Development- Day
programs help the participants develop a number of skills including academic
skills and independent living skills. Day
programs often provide a continuation of skills learned in high school so they
don’t lose them.
Job Development
Skills- Some programs also provide help with skills to transition to
supported employment or competitive employment. Day programs can also provide support
with filling out applications and developing skills to move toward pre-vocational programs
if available.
