Jan 25, 2012

Tramonto business aids developmentally disabled individuals

For years Anthem residents and the surrounding areas have had to drive into the heart of Phoenix to find a day treatment and training center that caters to high functioning individuals with developmental disabilities and even more of a drive to find a center with a work program.
Advanced Developmental Disabilities Services of Anthem has filled both of those needs with their new day treatment and training center is located around the corner from Albertsons on Carefree Highway and I-17 (34406 N. 27th Drive).
ADDS, which provides transportation to and from the program for all Anthem residents and Carefree area residents, has designed a program in place that is specifically for higher functioning individuals with developmental disabilities. At the Center, which is open from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday the main goal is helping the clients to become more independent within their home and within the community.
Raymond Joy, the executive director of ADDS explains that it can be a struggle for families that have an individual with a disability living in the home and helping that individual to learn to do things for themselves can help relieve some of that stress that the families are feeling.
“We have a very structured program that really focuses on teaching individual skills, social skills, communication skills and helping them to be more self reliant.”
Starting from the basics of making sure clients know their address and phone number Joy said classes at the Center include cooking classes where they learn to make an area of snacks and simple meals.
Joy explains that cooking class includes looking at a recipe and making a list of ingredients needed, looking at the amount of money that is needed to buy the ingredients, checking the newspaper for specials and coupons and then going to the market to do the grocery shopping.
“There are teachable moments in everything that we do,” he said. “Something that sounds pretty simple like cooking a meal incorporates reading skills, measuring skills, budgeting skills, as well as proper etiquette in the kitchen.”
The Center also provides classes in computer skills, full academics, laundry skills, safety skills, anger management and an array of other classes and activities that will help individuals be more independent.
Joy said that ADDS is implementing a work program that will have some clients working within the community and some working at the center.
“It is extremely empowering for our clients to not only be working and holding a job, but also to be earning a paycheck,” he said.
Joy stresses that ADDS still makes time to make sure clients have fun with regular trips to go to the movies, bowling, trips to state parks, hiking, swimming, going out to eat among other activities.
This summer clients got to go on a road trip to Prescott, among a couple other trips.
“You have some centers throughout the state that say all the right things and may have a great schedule in place, but saying it and doing it are two very different things,” Joy said. “Our standards are quite high and our clients’ personal growth is our top priority.”
For information on AADS go to addsaz.com, or call 602-828-7807.