Welcome to Advancing Abilities! We offer a variety of engagement options to those seeking to build their community! Advancing Abilities goal is to break down barriers of social isolation for people with varying abilities by exposing people to a community recreation center atmosphere that includes innovative technology. This will be done by introducing them to creative technical options that they can access and utilize to communicate and connect with others.
Our Services
Advancing Abilities Day Services provides both Day Program & Employment Support to people who have completed educational services. Our philosophy is to promote community engagement, create opportunities for friendship building and to find jobs with competitive wages. We are able to accept funding through private contracts from ICF’s, DODD waiver, Opportunity for Ohioans with Disability (OOD) and private pay. We also offer transportation services within a reasonable distance from our program.
Day Habilitation
Our Day Habilitation Services are individually tailored to the person’s needs and we provide a variety of programs and community engagement. We have the traditional day program as well as an “After Hours” that attend community events in the evenings and on weekends! In addition, we also provide nursing care, as needed. Here are some examples of what we can offer:
- Provides coordination of person-centered events and activities, focused on what the person wants to learn and engage in
- Life skills classes
- Cooking classes
- Computer lab available daily with various classes offered about navigating technology to increase capacity for use of technology solutions
- Technology equipment targeted toward breaking down barriers for those with specific learning disabilities
- A Sensory room
- Community involvement through volunteering and planning community collaborations and events
- YMCA weekly
- Gaming/sports events
- Transportation services
Employment Supports – Serving All Abilities
Thanks to the partnership with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and DODD Advancing Abilities can now start providing a wide variation of employment supports.
We are dedicated to assisting people with gaining employment skills and knowledge of how to obtain and maintain quality employment opportunities.
Advancing Abilities offers a Vocational Habilitation Program - ACES (Advancing Community Employment Services), a community-based time limited volunteer experience that goes into different business partners in the community to observe, job shadow and explore various employment experiences that is coupled with an educational component. We have almost 20 businesses that have partnered with us to allow ACES participants to gain valued work knowledge and skills in their community business.
Advancing Abilities Consultant will help the person receiving services determine what career they would like to pursue; the Advancing Abilities helps the person explore a variety of career paths available based on area need and individual interests and aptitude.
This service is performed for the person to explore specific career interests; evaluate work performance behaviors or stamina; and/or measure work productivity.
Benefits for the Job Seeker: These services will provide the person with the information needed to make a more informed decision about career paths for his/her future.
For the Employer: This provides an opportunity to assist someone in learning about a variety of career paths so that they can make an informed choice, which ensures a long-term employee versus a short-term one. This in turn helps people choose a career they want, which often leads to better retention for the employer.
Job Development is utilized to prepare and assist Participants to contact businesses, apply and interview with employers, and secure employment. Job Development should include instruction and guidance about how to locate potential job opportunities (e.g., networking, use of OMJ and other electronic job boards, newspapers, online, and “cold” calling); development of a resume and mock application template, and cover letters; how to answer interview questions including issues such as gaps in employment histories; requesting reasonable accommodations; addressing criminal histories and managing online profiles/social media.
On-the-Job Supports are utilized to aid such as instruction to learn job tasks: develop natural and peer support and adjust to the work environment. OJS may occur on-site or off-site, examples of off-site job support could be contacted with the Participant before or after work to problem solve possible concerns that may impact employment. OJS can provide continued support to the Participant and/or employer after the Participant has learned the job tasks and reached his/her expected level of independence, to ensure the stability of the placement, and enhance retention.
Work Adjustment services are utilized to assist Participants in preparing for employment by improving their job readiness. Work adjustment is successfully completed once Participants are job ready at which point work should end and Participants should progress into other vocational services, like Job Development. WA shall be conducted in competitive and integrated settings, except for limited circumstances when the VR Staff or VR Contractor determines that the Participant’s needs cannot be met in the community. Providers shall create a service plan that outlines what steps are required to be able to transition the Participant into a competitive integrated setting.
This paid summer service through OOD is an opportunity for high school students to learn appropriate work skills through hands-on experience with one of our many partners in the community. Classes and work experience run from June through Aug. Work Permit is required for participants younger than 16 years old.
We assist with transportation to any of our work experiences, interviews, and to and from work. Advancing Abilities has strived to provide services that will help people succeed in their lives and we know that transportation can be a major barrier to several pieces of our day we are continuing to grow routes in areas to better serve you.
