Goodwill of Central Iowa’s Day Services Program is more than just a program. Accredited by CARF, this comprehensive program is a platform for success. It’s designed to help participants overcome their developmental and intellectual disability barriers, such as mobility issues, learning difficulties, or sensory impairments, and gain a sense of achievement. By focusing on developing, maintaining, and increasing independence in self-care, socialization, communication, education, and life skills, it instills the confidence needed to succeed in life.
The program offers a variety of services that are tailored to meet the needs of each participant, which include:
- Structured activities that foster acceptance, build self-esteem, and improve social skills.
- Teambuilding activities that involve fitness, critical thinking and encourage creativity.
- Public outings to enhance social and financial skills.
- Community building by volunteering at local organizations and charities.
Did you know that up to 1 in 4 adults in the United States has some sort of disability barrier? A disability barrier is an obstacle that can impact individuals mentally or physically, making it difficult for them to perform certain activities or engage in interactions. Disability barriers can range from mobility, cognition, hearing, vision, independent living, or self-care limitations. The Day Services Program is here to inspire confidence, strengthen abilities, and redefine inclusion to make purposeful employment possible for all.
Developing Life Skills
One critical component of the Day Services Program is life skills training. This training is designed to help participants develop the skills they need to live independently. Participants are taught how to manage their finances, make healthy choices, and maintain a clean and organized living space. Our dedicated Life Instructors, who are experienced in working with individuals with developmental and intellectual disability barriers, work to inspire confidence and strengthen abilities. They provide one-on-one guidance and support, ensuring that each participant’s unique needs are met. Participants are encouraged to take an active role in their own lives and make decisions to help them achieve their goals.
Meet Jill. Her journey to success wasn’t a straight line. She traveled through several towns and programs until she found the one that truly understood her specific needs. What made the difference was the personalized care team at Goodwill of Central Iowa’s Day Services Program that developed activities and lessons specifically for her. This personalized approach gave her a sense of belonging and peace of mind for her family.
“I am so happy when my daughter is happy; this is what every parent wants for their child,” said Linda, Jill’s mother.
Community Integration
The Day Services Program places a great emphasis on community integration, which is a vital component of the program. The objective is to help the participants become active members of their community. To achieve this goal, the program encourages the participants to take part in community events and activities. Moreover, they are provided with opportunities to volunteer and give back to their community by participating in initiatives like Meals of the Heartland and the local homeless shelter.
Let’s look at Andrew’s experience. Andrew went from being shy to lending a helpful hand, strengthening his abilities with the support he received from his Day Services team. He has made significant progress, actively participates, has a positive attitude, and volunteers whenever possible. Andrew enjoys volunteering at the local homeless shelter. “It’s a nice place to give food to people who need it… I like to help other people,” he said. But his helping hand doesn’t end at Goodwill. Andrew’s dedication to his self-ethics is evident in his role at Hy-Vee, where he’s been an employee for the past three years!
“Community integration is an important part of the program because it helps participants develop social skills and build relationships with others. It also helps participants feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves, which can be very empowering. This can help individuals feel more comfortable in the community and may encourage them to seek employment, leading to greater independence,” said Jill Hagen, a Day Services Program Instructor.
Managing Changing Schedules
Many people don’t realize that several of our participants are actively involved in the community, whether in college or employment. Adaobi attends community college while participating in the Day Services Program. Goodwill has coached her to manage her time between all her obligations on an ever-changing daily schedule. Time management can be challenging and stressful, but for individuals with intellectual disability barriers, it can cause significant difficulties throughout the day.
“I find it incredibly impressive that she can manage her time between school, the day services program, homework, and her other activities. The constant changing of daily schedules would tire a lot of people out, but she does very well with it,” said Bre Holland, her Day Services Instructor.
By developing time management skills, participants unlock the key to a more fulfilling and successful life. They learn how to prioritize tasks, allocate time more efficiently, and achieve their goals, resulting in increased productivity and reduced stress. With this vital skill, they can accomplish more in less time and enhance the overall quality of their lives.
Healthy Lifestyles
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), individuals with intellectual disability barriers are more likely to have poor diets and be overweight. Adults and children with a barrier are approximately 57% more likely to be overweight than those without disability barriers. But it’s not as straightforward as it seems because people with intellectual or developmental disability barriers can find it difficult to eat and maintain a healthy lifestyle for various reasons. Some of these reasons can include difficulty chewing, numerous medications, lack of healthy food options, and lack of resources like money and transportation. By following healthy guidelines and teaching how to encourage a healthy lifestyle, individuals with intellectual disability barriers can improve their overall health and reduce their risk for chronic diseases associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.
Day Services participant Jenny has been working with her care team to develop her money management and food choices through various weekly experiences, allowing her to learn and grow in healthy real-life situations. By learning healthy food options and budgeting, she has learned healthy habits she can implement to achieve her specific goals while participating in the Day Services Program.
Furthering Goodwill’s Mission
We’re on a mission to inspire confidence, strengthen abilities, and redefine inclusion in the community and the workplace.
The Day Services Program helps participants acquire skills that are essential for gaining meaningful employment, living independently, and becoming active members of their community. With personalized care plans from the dedicated Goodwill care team, participants embark on a transformative journey. The program is a true testament to the fact that everyone is capable of great things, and individuals with developmental or intellectual disability barriers can achieve their dreams and aspirations with the right support and encouragement.
Together, we’re making purposeful employment possible for all. Please visit our Mission page and our blog to learn more about the Day Services Program or read our participants’ stories, or, watch a video of participant and instructors’ testimonies here.
