Cooking, shopping, and exercise are routine for many people. For people with disabilities, accomplishing these everyday moments can be a source of independence, comfort, and pride. Ray Graham Association provides daytime activities for people with disabilities, classes for folks with similar interests, as well as life coaching. Through partnerships with Meals on Wheels, Feed My Starving Children, West Suburban Community Pantry, and similar organizations, the people we serve are civic leaders themselves. They volunteer over 3,000 hours a year, delivering meals to their homebound neighbors among many other activities.
Community Learning Services
Community Learning Services (CLS) programs operate throughout DuPage County, with hubs located in Burr Ridge, Elmhurst, Naperville, and Lombard. These programs offer activities that explore employment readiness, community integration, recreation, exercise, leisure, and volunteering for local and national charities.
These programs offer activities that explore employment readiness, community integration, recreation, exercise, leisure, and volunteering for local and national charities. Most people attend the CLS closest to their home. Transportation may be available for people who qualify. CLSs are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Community Learning Services provide people with disabilities the opportunity to make the most of their time in the community. Their days are meaningful because the CLS team members plan activities based on the shared interests of the attendees. At the cutting-edge of therapeutic day programming, CLS staff build schedules around seven core areas:
- Employment readiness
- Community involvement
- Art and sensory therapy
- Health and wellness programs
- Recreation and leisure experiences
- Culinary skills
- Technology exploration
Benefits
- Socialization: Finding people we can rely on is one of life’s great joys. Just like you, people with disabilities seek companionship through friendships, family, and careers. This is made more comfortable with the built-in support offered by Community Learning Services. With Ray Graham Association team members’ help, participants are appreciated as equal members of the community and can build lifelong friendships.
- Recreation: A life well-lived includes more than just the basics. Recreational activities add excitement and richness to everyday life. People who attend Community Learning Services will work together to determine what is enjoyable and important for the group and then make it happen, whether planning a trip to a museum, going to a movie, or more actively, hiking, or bowling.
- Community Integration: The community roles and pursuits each person participates in varies depending on their interests. Ray Graham Association team members help each person develop their strengths at home, work, school, and in the community. Attendees learn to evaluate their environment, cultivate new skills, and modify activities to help maintain and increase community integration, involvement, and increase independence.
Life Coaching
Life coaches identify and build on skills that help people live more independent lives. These services are customized for each individual and offered one-on-one either at home and in the community. If this sounds like a good fit for you or your loved one, you can use home-based services funding for life coaching.
Monarch Services
Monarch offers five flexible services that meet needs—especially those of young adults–during times of transition. Monarch Academy, Monarch II, Life Coaching, Monarch Club and Monarch Zoom are person-centered services designed to promote lifelong learning. Learn more about Monarch Services.
Questions?
If you want to learn more about Life Skills services, you can email ProgramServices@RayGraham.org or call 630-620-2222.
