Programs & Services for People Seeking Support

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An Individualized Plan

All of our programs and services are centered around people's needs and interests.

A Person-Centered Plan is carefully designed by each person and their team of professionals often consisting of providers of meaningful day supports, providers of residential supports, family members, and a Coordinator of Community Services. The person receiving services, along with other individuals of their choice are involved and are the driving forces that guide the process. The team partners with the person seeking support to create a highly customized plan, comprehensive of goals and services, which leads to the request, and authorization, of appropriate services. The plan is an ongoing problem-solving process used to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities plan for their future. A variety of services can be accessed each day during Opportunities, Inc.’s operating hours. Each candidate’s person-centered plan can be revised as needed, but no less than annually, to revisit needs, interests, assess progress and make modifications where necessary. From the design phase to the implementation of the plan, the process will require 60 days.

Our diverse programs and services are provided in person and via virtual supports, and are intentionally built to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live as independently as possible and experience community inclusion. Examples include:

Navigating one’s neighborhood independently
Making social connections
Learning vocational skills to enhance employment competencies
Finding a job
Learning how to carry out basic math problems
Building confidence and so much more

Experiencing Communities and Making Connections

We provide support to people in our services so they can fully experience, navigate, and be actively engaged in the communities they belong to.

Together we learn about surroundings and logistics. We pinpoint volunteer opportunities or social events to practice useful social and work skills. We identify potential obstacles to inclusion and brainstorm ways to overcome these. Through carefully designed activities our guests practice social, life, and self-advocacy skills. Our staff organizes games, arts and crafts, exercise sessions, structured lessons that engage people in social opportunities or real-life scenarios. We collaborate to improve the lives of our patrons and facilitate their inclusion in everyday routines and interactions.

Community Development

Inclusive community-based experiences that allow our participants to access and engage in activities based on their interests and preferences as carefully identified in their person-centered plan. These services all focus on creating connections with other people in their chosen community while learning, practicing and maintaining skills to support independence and promote positive growth. Services within this program can be provided virtually as well. This delivery format is equally intended to maintain or enhance a participant's abilities, build their sense of independence, meaningful relationships, and community participation.

Self-advocacy, social, logistical, and employment skills through volunteering, internships or participation in local community events are just some areas of focus that help our members reach their goals.

Day Habilitation

The Day Habilitation program offers regularly scheduled meaningful activities and formal lessons that focus on developing and maintaining skills that support daily living, employment and socialization. This program is offered in both small and large group settings.

Our Day Habilitation program is structured around each Individualized Person-Centered Plan and services often evolve together with each individual’s unique needs, interests and circumstances and can be provided in person or direct support can be provided through virtual support. These services can be combined with other delivery methods in order to ensure the goals of the participant’s Person-Centered Plan are being met.

Our patron’s goals are always at the heart of what we do to support greater independence and personal choice. Learn more about the Day Habilitation Program.

Assistive Technology

At Opportunities Inc., we believe in providing the most appropriate support to all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One of the many options our participants can benefit from is assistive technology.

Assistive technology is designed to enhance the functional abilities of individuals and promote their ability to live independently and participate in their community. Opportunities Inc., is able to support the individual by conducting a needs assessment to identify, among multiple technological solutions available, which might be selected on the basis of the specific characteristics and needs of the person included in the Person-Centered Plan.

Our assistive technology services also include assistance in the development of adaptive materials, training or technical assistance for individuals and their support network, repair and maintenance of devices, programming and configuration of devices, coordination with other necessary therapies, interventions or services in the Person-Centered Plan, and services consisting of purchasing or leasing devices.

These devices may be acquired commercially, modified or customized, and can include items such as speech and communication devices, blind and low vision devices, deaf and hard of hearing devices, computer and telephone use devices, environmental control devices, aides for daily living, cognitive support devices, remote support devices, and adapted toys and specialized equipment.

Travel Training Program

Our travel training program is a partnership between Opportunities, Inc., the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and the Arc of Northern Virginia. The goal of our travel training program is to support the participant in learning how to use fixed-route public transportation. The program promotes and enhances individual independence, and improves quality of life. It is designed to teach people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to arrange for, plan, and travel safely and independently using different modes of public transportation to access and engage in activities within their community.

Basic skills that are introduced and practiced include orientation to one’s immediate environment, identifying landmarks, introduction to technology that assists with travel and safety, learning a route, and how to safely cross a street or behave when in the vicinity of traffic. When using public transportation, further skills are addressed such as understanding fixed-route schedules, identifying public transit vehicles available, locating transit stops, reading schedules, paying fares, recognizing when to disembark, and learning the route from a transit stop to point of origin and destination. Finally, interactive and problem-solving skills are also practiced, such as how to interact with vehicle conductors and other passengers, and what to do when sudden changes occur such as delays, detours or inclement weather.

This level of service is always provided by staff travel trainers.

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

Experiencing the World of Employment

We know that employment is more than a job, it’s the opportunity to participate and contribute to a community.

Our employment services are based on the core belief that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities possess unique skills and capabilities that make them positive contributing members of our workforce. No matter the starting point, our staff is ready to work side-by-side with participants to empower them and to increase successful employment outcomes and achieve their professional goals.

Discovery

We work together to zero in on talents and preferences and design a plan of action.

Ongoing Job Support

We help retain employment through job coaching, and training needed to complete basic job-related tasks.

Self-Employment Development Support

We help develop a business and marketing plan and assist in all aspects of launching a business.

Transportation Services

Our transportation services support increased independent mobility and integration. Individuals can use this service to help support the cost of getting back and forth to work.