Vocational & Day Programs
Empowering Individuals With Disabilities
At Community Mainstreaming, we work to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live more meaningful, self-determined lives within their communities. One of the ways we help people achieve this goal is through our unique day programs.
Our unique day programs connect people to their community, provide opportunities to make friends, teach a myriad of skills, develop work readiness, and ultimately increase independence. We offer two different programs: Day Habilitation Without Walls and Supported Employment.
Day Habilitation Without Walls
Community Mainstreaming’s Day Habilitation Without Walls helps people identify and develop work, social, and recreational passions and skills through person-centered planning. The program takes place at different sites in the community. Participants are picked up and dropped off by Community Mainstreaming staff each day. Group-selected community-based experiences offer individuals opportunities for personal growth, civic participation, and gaining a deeper understanding of their community and society.
Our Day Hab Program Without Walls has been re-designed to focus on four (4) CORES: Technology, The Arts, Lifestyle and Vocational. We create opportunities and rewarding experiences!
Technology
Our team will provide meaningful and community-based enrichment with a focus on technology and individual interests. Activities include: a podcast program, computer skills, recording, editing, digital programming, and more!
The Arts
Led by a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), our ARTS CORE provides music therapy, illustration workshops, art groups, Ukulele & Glee Clubs, and more!
Lifestyle
Our Lifestyle CORE focuses on developing skills based on interest; whether it is baking, cooking, fitness, and exercise; program participants will work on skills to improve their social and emotional well-being.
Vocational
Our dedicated staff will provide work readiness workshops and vocational support opportunities to assess and identify soft/hard skills.
Supported Employment
Community Mainstreaming provides supported employment through both ACCES-VR and OPWDD. Based on the Person-Centered approach, our supported employment process begins with a thorough discovery phase. We work to uncover the individual’s personal strengths, preferences, and interests. Once we have documented these critical considerations, we then help the individual with active job searches, interview preparation and continual job coaching.
Our staff provide ongoing support post-job placement, helping with job responsibilities, co-worker relationships, and assignments. Supported Employment benefits individuals with disabilities and employers through advantages like tax credits, reduced training costs, decreased turnover and increased customer loyalty. This comprehensive support is crucial for success. It’s a win-win opportunity for all.
Campus Connections at Hofstra
In collaboration with Hofstra University Continuing Education, we offer classes for young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. All classes and activities take place on Hofstra’s campus. The program allows young adults to have inclusive interactions with peers on campus and to connect with many campus resources, based on their individual interest and career goals.
Students will become acquainted with campus life by dining at the Mack Student Center; visiting the Hofstra Bookstore, the Hofstra University Museum, WRHU-88.7 FM (Radio Hofstra University) studios, and video studios; meeting with Hofstra’s athletic teams; and exploring the athletic facilities. A comprehensive social skills curriculum, which includes exercises and class discussions, as well as daily interactions with different student groups on campus help students feel comfortable in a campus setting.
SUCCESS THROUGH CONNECTING
From a Single Residence to a Leading Advocate
Since our inception, we’ve grown from a single residence in King’s Point into an advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — offering a range of services and helping shape public policy.
Thank You Community Mainstreaming!
“Community Mainstreaming has been a game changer for our family. As a parent of a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities, finding the right support and services has been challenging. But since we connected with Community Mainstreaming, our lives have been transformed.”
– Vocational & Day Program Student Parent