Program areas at Life's Worc
Life's Worc provides residential supports for about 280 individuals who reside in our 45 community based homes located throughout queens, east harlem and nassau and suffolk counties in new york. Each home offers a full range of support and services consistent with the needs of our individuals, certified as individual residential alternatives (ira's) for operation and regulated through the nys office for people with developmental disabilities (opwdd).
Life's Worc provides community habilitation (formerly referred as in-home residential habilitation) which provides supports to approximately 85 children and adults throughout queens, nassau and suffolk counties in new york. Community habilitation is designed to provide individuals who reside with their family needed supports and assistance in the development of independent living skills. Beginning in 2020, Life's Worc provides community habilitation - residential to approximately 180 individuals. These services were funded by opwdd to provide day hab services in a certified residential setting since individuals could not transport to attend day hab programs during the pandemic. Additionally, because dh programs have to comply with social distancing guidelines and maximum capacity indoors, ch-r is still being funded.
Life's Worc operates 6 day habilitation programs supporting 225 individuals in programs located throughout queens, nassau and suffolk counties in ny. The programs have been primarily designed to assist high school graduates and young adults in the development of daily living skills leading to greater levels of independence and work readiness skills, promoting opportunities for gainful employment.
Community based prevocational program: provides learning and vocational training, including unpaid work experiences, to help individuals develop general, non-job task specific strengths and skills that contribute to employability. This program helps prepare people for integrated, competitive employment in the future by teaching the necessary 'soft' skills required to be successful in the workplace. Acces-vr: in partnership with adult career and continuing education services-vocational rehabilitation (acces-vr), this program assists youth and adults with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment through vocational instruction, education, rehabilitation, and career development. Family support services/respite recreation - provides programs in queens and long island designed to offer children, teens and young adults with i/dd and autism with opportunities for social connections. These recreational venues focus on development of social skills and are age specific activities integrated in the local communities. Customized employment - provides supports and assistance to individuals with i/dd and autism with innovative job development based upon the individual skill sets and the needs of the employer. The goal is to match an employer with a job applicant leading to competitive employment opportunities. Behavior intervention services - provides progressive and innovative solutions and support to families and school districts throughout queens, nassau, suffolk and bronx regions. Utilizing applied behavioral analysis (aba) approach, the supports incorporate opportunities for learning across all settings and environments for individuals who may have significant or challenging behavior and need specialized supports.