ABILITIES UNITED
525 E Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306 www.abilitiesunited.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: Abilities United advances advocacy, inclusion, and independence for children and adults with developmental disabilities.Founded in 1963 by 12 families whose children had intellectual disabilities, Abilities United (formerly C.A.R., Community Association for Rehabilitation), now serves a diverse group of individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area, who have developmental and physical disabilities or are at risk of developmental delay. Since its inception, Abilities United has offered people of all ages and abilities educational, therapeutic, recreational and vocational experiences to help them lead meaningful lives and with resource connections that make it easier for them to lead the lives they choose.Abilities United has been accredited by CARF, an International rehabilitation services accreditation commission, since 1980.

Abilities United advances advocacy, inclusion, and independence for people with developmental disabilities.

Adult Services assists individuals with developmental or other disabilities to fully participate in their community through employment, educational, recreational, social, and volunteer activities. Using community resources and experiences, Adult Services Specialists and Community Training Instructors assist individuals to acquire or expand their skills through the Adult Day Activities, Tailored Day Services, Community Connections, Independent Living Skills, Integrated Living and Employment Services programs. 319 adults received services. Adult Day Activities - At Adult Day Activities, adults choose from a variety of activities to experience new opportunities and learn daily living and community skills. Participants learn household tasks such as shopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning, and gardening; community life skills like transportation usage and restaurant dining; and how to access community resources such as libraries, museums, theatres, parks, and other public areas. The participants we serve make their own goals, choices, and decisions about the support and assistance they need from their family, friends, and Adult Day Activities staff.Tailored Day Services - In lieu of the Day Program - If participants prefer to work with a one-to-one life skills coach and customize their training to fit their unique needs, the Tailored Day service is the right choice for them. They determine how they spend their time and can chose from volunteer work, computer education, social activities, post-secondary education, daily living skills, or their own special interests.Community Connections - As a member of the community, the participants we serve have access to many free public resources and activities. They choose from a variety of social and volunteer activities that provide opportunities to give back to their community in meaningful ways. Participants also have opportunities to make new friends and learn exciting new skills. At Community Connections, they can volunteer at dozens of local nonprofit agencies, learn skills through the Agency's educational series, and develop communication, integration, and independence skills when they help produce the Community Connections cable TV show.Independent Living Skills - The participants we serve in Independent Living Skills may already have many life skills, but Abilities United can assist in acquiring additional ones through this program. In Independent Living Skills (ILS), adults work 1:1 with their Adult Services Specialists to learn the additional daily living skills they need to be as independent as possible. A customized plan is created with the person-served participant, and encompasses personal/social goals, domestic goals, financial, goals and community goals.Integrated Living Services - Abilities United's Integrated Living Program is a comprehensive, individualized two-year long program designed for adults over age 18, with developmental disabilities, to learn the daily life skills needed to be self-sufficient and live independently in the community.Employment Services - For those adults looking for paid employment, Employment Services has a variety of services to support them. This program helps participants attain work skills to complement those they already have. Through their work with the Employment Services Specialists and Job Developers, participants may access employment preparation services, assistance with interviewing, job development and placement services. Participants also have access to coaching services, and personal, vocational and social adjustment services for employment success.This year's highlights and accomplishments: Currently, the department has over 200 employers and over 50 nonprofit partners in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties who benefit from our participants becoming model employees and conscientious volunteers. Employment Services established 11 new business partners in fiscal year 2017. Production of two television programs through the Palo Alto Media Center to educate the community and highlight our participant's' successes. The program won the Best Accessible Independent Producer National Award. 30 job applicants placed in competitive employment with 85% retention rate. 5 individuals moved into independent housing, with over 100 participants living on their own. Personalized support in academic, job and career, independent living, recreational, social and relationship building skills, health and wellness. Partnering with Foothill Community College for educational classes increased to four days a week. Dance-A-Thon with San Francisco Autism Society, resulting in $2,700 in funds raised 2-year comprehensive, individualized services offered at a residential complex, beginning in October 2015. Adapted from post-secondary educational model. Presentations offered to community entities: LinkedIn, ArchiveKids, City of Menlo Park, Stanford Autism Conference, Sequoia Union High School District, and Korean Delegation.

Children's Development Services ensures that children from birth to nine years of age, and their families, learn the techniques and skills needed to achieve the best possible start in life. These services are provided through Early Intervention and Milestones Preschool. This department served 185 unduplicated infants and children and their families this last year.Early Intervention - Early Intervention services offers in home and community based services for children and their families from birth to 3 years old that have development delays or are at risk of delay. The Agency's multi-disciplinary team of early interventionists, inclusion specialists, and therapists provides structured developmental and educational opportunities. Family participation and support are integral parts of this service. The Agency serves families throughout the Bay Area. Non English speaking families work directly with the Agency's multi-cultural staff.Abilities United believes in a family oriented, collaborative approach, emphasizing parent/caregiver involvement and partnership with other professionals who work with the children. The Agency's therapists and staff are trained pediatric specialists with extensive experience and knowledge regarding resources and interventions for young children. In collaboration with other early childhood professionals, the program provides high quality 1:1 therapeutic (occupational, physical, and speech) services as well as small group services such as social skill development groups, which improve the quality of life for the children and their family.Milestones Preschool - Milestones Preschool is a relationship-based developmental program providing preschool in an inclusionary environment, supporting children ages 2-5 years and their families. As an inclusion program, Milestones Preschool serves small groups of children both with and without developmental delays or risk factors. The program focuses on individual growth and progress for each child in all developmental domains, using project-based curriculum, access to specialized services, and collaboration with the Early Intervention services. This year's highlights and accomplishments: Early Intervention services in "Watch Me Grow," a multi-disciplinary collaborative hosted by Stanford Children's Health. The Early Intervention program continued to collaborate with Dr. Grace Gengoux, Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Stanford University. The project, titled "Social Motivation Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Improving Peer Initiation", was an exciting extension of Dr. Gengoux's work with the department by hosting Social Skills Groups for the research project. Early Intervention partnered with Milestones Preschool at Abilities United, bringing Early Intervention clients and their caregivers into the classroom setting and facilitating the preschool curriculum in a low-ratio environment. Early Intervention continued its partnership with Family Connections Preschools, involving co-teaching with their educators in their classroom and enabling Family Connections Preschools to include children with a greater range of abilities in their Preschools, serving Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. Inclusive preschool education in the Inclusion Collaborative, a program of the Santa Clara Office of Education, whose focus is the successful inclusion of children with special needs in early learning environments and the community through education, advocacy, and awareness. Milestones Preschool continued a social emotional curriculum to complement the inclusive education where 11 children graduated from the preschool to mainstream kindergartens Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford Family Medicine and UCSF medical departments continued to utilize Abilities United's Children's Development Services department for student and resident rotation to observe, learn and collaborate Partnerships continued with The Institute of Human and Social Development, providing IHSD with occupational therapy support and education. The department supported Stanford medical researchers in their efforts to obtain grants for their research. The department received a $30,000 grant and donations for equipment and training

Family Support Services helps families remain together and grow together, as a strong and healthy unit. Support is provided through After School Socialization Training and Respite programs. During the year, 109 children and adults received services.After School Socialization Training - After School Socialization Training is a community integration service for children and young adults; ages 5 to 22 years old, which have an intellectual / developmental or other disability. Each day offers children and young adults the opportunity to learn the daily living skills that help them to do well in school and social settings, to become more independent, to enjoy recreational opportunities with their peers, and to transition into community afterschool programs that serve children from all walks of life. Additionally, this program offers two summer camps: Creative Discoveries Camp and Summer's Excellent Adventure Camp, an inclusionary summer camp in partnership with the City of Palo Alto.Respite - Respite / Home Companion Services provides highly trained home companions for families caring for a family member with an intellectual/ developmental or other disability. The agency's Respite Specialists work in private homes and in varied community settings throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, providing care, companionship and fun activities for the person-served participants of all ages, and giving respite to parents and other primary care givers so that they can go to work, school, vacation, run errands, or care for other family members.This year's highlights and accomplishments: Over 100 families received services. The Respite Service was available 24/7 for emergency needs. Partnered with City of Palo Alto, local elementary and middle schools, and high schools for summer camp. Two camps offered during summer: Creative Discoveries and Summer's Excellent Adventure Camp.

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