Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Community Integration Services

Enhancing quality of life by promoting skill development, independence and inclusion.

Yellowhead Community Services provides a variety of programs and services to adults with developmental disabilities residing in the North Thompson region. With the exception of Home Share which is a residential option, program hours for all other services are typically 9:00am-4:00pm, Monday to Friday. Hours of operation may include evenings and/or weekends on occasion to accommodate special events, activities or requests. All of our programs and services are closed on statutory holidays.
These programs and services are made possible with funding from Community Living BC (CLBC). The program does not charge individuals or their families a fee for services.

Referrals into the program come directly from CLBC as interested individuals must be eligible for CLBC services. Not sure if you qualify? Please reach out to CLBC by calling Toll Free: 1-877-377-4433 or visit their website at https://www.communitylivingbc.ca

There are six components to our Community Integration Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities. These include the following:

• Job Skills
• Life Skills (Challengers) 
• Outreach
• Community Inclusion
• Homemaker
• Home Share
  
  

Job Skills Component

The job skills component of the service was designed to assist adults with developmental disabilities to find and maintain meaningful, paid employment in the community. A job skills coach works with each individual to assess his or her interests, strengths and abilities to prepare for employment in various ways such as:
• Accessing appropriate transportation and addressing any barriers (ie. Learning how to take the bus)
• Time management skills (ie. being on time for work)
• Assistance to take job related training or courses (ie, first aid, food safe)
• Developing pre-employment skills (ie. resume writing, mock interviews)
• Enhancing personal skills (ie. appropriate dress, hygiene, work-place conduct)
• Assistance accessing services through WorkBC
• On the job training, supervision and conflict resolution

The job Skills coach may accompany and assist the individual at the work site to provide assistance learning tasks and supervision. For some this may be a short-term approach until the individual and employer are satisfied that learning is complete, for others this may be a longer-term arrangement.

Some of our individuals are currently employed in the following area:

• Dishwasher/busser at local Tim Hortons
• Transit/ vehicle Cleaning
• Bus Shelter Maintenance (winter)
• Housekeeper
• Forestry Recreation Site Maintenance (spring-fall)
• Self Employment

Life Skills Component - Challengers Program

Life skills Component, also known as the ‘Challengers Program’ as named by the participants acts as a 16 hour a week day program service for 10-12 adults with developmental disabilities. The name ‘Challengers” has special meaning to our long term participants who chose the name to reflect the notion of challenging themselves and challenging others people’s perceptions of disability.
Activities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Life skills development such as budgeting, cooking, gardening, rights, circle of support
• Arts and Crafts such as painting, paper mache, card making and seasonal craft projects
• Holliday Celebrations such as Halloween party and Christmas potluck dinner
• Social Activities such as monthly lunches out at local restaurants, shopping trips to Kamloops, Blazer’s hockey games, bowling    and attending outdoor music nights
• Sports and recreational activities such fishing, swimming, bocce, badminton, pickle ball etc.

Outreach Support

The Supported Living Component of our services provides individual staff support to adults with developmental disabilities living independently in the community and in their own residence. Referrals into the program come from Community Living BC. The type of support provided is based on identified level of support, individual needs, goals and outcomes. Support may include but is not limited to the following:

• Assistance with household taaks to maintain the home such as cleaning and minor repairs
• Assistance with personal and grocery shopping as well as meal preparation
• Support with budgeting, banking and money management.
• Assistance to complete laundry and maintain good personal hygiene
• Aid individuals with scheduling and attending medical/dental/specialist appointments in town and out of area.
• Promote self-advocacy and assist with conflict resolution when needed.
  

Support services are provided typically during the week Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 4:30pm. This service is designed to be flexible and exceptions may be made based on identified individual needs to include support services after 4:30pm and on weekends. The program does not run on statutory holidays.

The number of support hours allocated and frequency of service may vary from once a week to five times a week dependant on individual needs for support and contract funding levels from Community Living BC. The program does not charge individuals or their families a fee for services.

For more information on any of the programs listed above, please contact the program manager, Nikki Vincent at 250 674-2600

Outcome Measurement Reports for our programs are available for you to down load and read. December 2021 Community Integration Services Report

Community Inclusion Services

Community Inclusion Component of our services provides individual staff support to adults with developmental disabilities residing at home with family members, in a Home Share arrangement or living independently in the community. The focus of the program is to promote the individual’s feelings of independence, confidence in skills and abilities and experience inclusion as an active, valued, contributing member of the community. Staff work with individuals to develop goals and plans that identify opportunities to enhance social connections and expand personal support networks. Individuals are also encouraged and supported to pursue personal interests and explore new activities.

Support may include but is not limited to the following:

• Accessing and participation in community recreational programs (Zumba class)
• Utilizing generic community resources, programs and services (public transit)
• Joining a special interest group or association (Elk's, riding club)
• On the job training and supervision (task breakdown, job completion)
• Life skills development that promotes independence (banking, hygiene, personal safety)

Community –based activities may also include engaging in volunteer activities, personal shopping, attend special events such as live theater, concerts, sporting events and community celebrations locally and out of town.

Support services are provided typically during the week Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 4:30pm. This service is designed to be flexible and exceptions may be made based on identified individual needs to include support services after 4:30pm and on weekends. The program does not run on statutory holidays.

The number of support hours allocated and frequency of service may vary from once a week to five times a week dependant on individual needs for support and contract funding levels from Community Living BC. The program does not charge individuals or their families a fee for services. For more information, please contact program manager, Nikki Vincent at 250 674-2600.

Outcome Measurement Reports for our programs are available for you to down load and read. Annual Community Integration Services Report.

Homemaker

Homemaker services provide in-home support to individuals who require assistance with maintaining their home and ensuring their health and hygiene. Services may include assistance with the following:

• cleaning of the residence
• laundry
• waste removal
• meal preparation
• minor errands
• assistance with personal care

Home Share

Home Share is a residential option for adults with developmental disabilities where an individual moves into and shares a home with another individual, couple or family and receives additional support when requested/needed. Areas of support may include assistance with self-care, relationship building, meal preparation, enhancing life skills and assistance accessing community resources and services. There are many different models of home sharing. In some situations, home sharing involves close relationships where individuals living together share not only their homes, but their lives. In other situations, individuals lead more independent lives and may come together only at specific times or for specific purposes.

Home Share provides full-time, 24 hours a day 7 days a week support to the individual residing in the home.

Referrals into the program come from Community Living BC. When an individual is identified as wanting or needing a home share arrangement, the agency will look for a match from existing pre-approved homes. If there is not an appropriate match, the agency will make every effort to recruit a suitable home share arrangement. The Program manager will remain in contact with CLBC with regards to progress and CLBC may choose to approach other agencies to look for a suitable home share arrangement.

For more information about becoming a Home Share Provider or Home Sharing as a residential option for an adult with a developmental disability, please contact program manager, Alysha Piva at 250 674-2600

Outcome Measurement Reports for our programs are available for you to down load and read. Annual Home Share Report