Community Habilitation

Community habilitation offers people the opportunity to receive individualized support in their home and places in their community. The person and their staff work together to plan what the day should look like. That might be a trip to the library and a visit to the gym. Or maybe a few hours of volunteer work, followed by grocery shopping for items needed to try a new recipe. Some examples of activities or goals community habilitation staff might offer support with are: personal health (like an exercise routine or helping to schedule doctor appointments or fill a prescription), community inclusion (like participating in a class at the local rec center with other members of the community), grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, money management/budgeting, etc. Each person decides the goals they’d like to work on with the help of their circle of support (family, natural supports, care coordinator, etc.).

Choice and flexibility are the hallmarks of our community habilitation experience. The schedule is determined by the person receiving services and what matters most to them. Support can be provided for a few hours each week or for full days (based on NYS OPWDD approval). Community habilitation supports are typically provided one-to-one, so relationships matter. We partner with each person to identify talented direct support professionals who are dedicated to helping people achieve their goals. Relationships with staff are valued as are those that develop when someone volunteers regularly or when they visit a store or shop routinely and develop a connection with someone. The community habilitation program is all about developing or enhancing the skills needed for the person to live more independently in their home or in the community. It is also about cultivating interests and experiences that are meaningful and purpose filled.