Good News Friday!

One of the core beliefs we hold at Imagine! is that success that is limited to a classroom or controlled, segregated environment is a very incomplete success. We strive to go beyond those limitations and broaden our horizons, as well as the horizons of the people we serve.

That is why so many of our services are community-based: meaning that they actively encourage community inclusion.

However, being community inclusive does not occur without challenges. There are, of course, times when not everything goes as planned, and we adapt and adjust. Imagine! embraces these teachable moments as they may arise in an authentic environment. Learning how to adjust to transitions and the unexpected are valuable life skills that can be taught through the community.

Today, I’d like to highlight a couple of examples here at Imagine! of community-based services in action.

• Imagine!’s Dayspring department recently released its Jan-Aug 2011 Community Calendar Activities catalog. According to their website, Dayspring’s Community Calendar Activities offers families of some of the youngest people we serve great activities and opportunities in the community for their children to meet their goals through fun and play. Each location has activities that are age and developmentally appropriate. Activities are centered around play, because play is the primary vehicle for a child’s mental and physical growth. Play has a vital role in cognitive, speech-language, physical, emotional and social development. You can learn more by clicking here.

• Imagine!’s Out & About department (by the way, I should acknowledge that some of the language I used in my introduction above about community inclusion comes from the Out & About website – they say it so well I figured why not just borrow it) recently released its new Spring 2011 Catalog. Out & About offers two adult service programs for older adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities. These programs provide opportunities for participants to engage in their communities. Services are offered seven days a week. Day Program Services offer weekday programming Monday through Friday with half- or full-day options. Catalog Services offer evening and weekend activities. You can learn more by clicking here.

I’d like to thank the staff members and management at both of these departments for their unwavering commitment to providing services out in the community and meeting Imagine!’s mission in a very powerful way.