Our approach is to implement strategies that maximize independence and inclusion in the community through the follow methodologies:

• Self Advocacy and Human Rights training.
• Choice, decision making and exploration of perosnal interests.
• Community Participation, Integration and Relationship Building.
• Skill acquisition using individual instructional tactics, breaking down skills into discrete identifiable steps.
• Money Management.
• Emergency and Safety skills training.
• Counseling and Coordination with local Mental Health Centers.
• Clinical Supports, Applied Behavior and Functional Analysis, Social Skills development.
• Nursing Supports, Arranging and Follow-up of Health Services and Supports, and Medication Administration following State Regulations and Guidelines.
• Personal Care and Well-being.

Assessment & Planning:

Upon entering the agency each Individual participates in WCI's formal comprehensive assessements especially designed for WCI staff to effectively maximize and streamline information that best helps to determine a person's likes, dislikes, their strengths, and their areas of need.  Based on the information from the assessment process, the Individual and members of their support team are able to develop an Individualized Service Design (ISD) in preparation for the Individual Support Plan (ISP) Meeting.  During the meeting the Individual and members of their support team have information that enables them to develop and implement meaningful strategies and objectives that will provide the optimum chance for personal growth and success.

Individuals are encouraged and supported to participate in making choices and decisions regarding their lives to the greatest extent of which he or she is capable.  All decisions are based on a person's personal taste and preferences, areas of need, and each Individual's short and long-term Vision for the future.

The level and intensity of teaching supports and supervision varies from home to home and is commensurate and based on the ability and the specific needs of each of the Individuals living in each home.  For example, an Individual may require support to learn or fine tune their personal care skills, such as showering, brushing their teeth, or shaving due to a lack of skills, while learning the skills they need to be more independent in that area.  Others may require support, supervision, and a teaching plan to increase their independence in any or all of the areas mentioned above.  In other cases, a person may explore the use of assistive or adaptive technology to facilitate independence in certain areas of their lives.

WCI utilizes a variety of community resources and agencies that provide specialized and ancillary services to support people to gain independent living skills, such as physical therapy; occupational therapy; speech therapy; individual and group counseling; psychiatric services and adult education classes at community high schools or colleges.

Community Integration:

Major goal areas include involvement in the community such as attending the Waltham Fall Festival and religious institutions; neighborhood cultural and political activities and volunteer work (volunteering for the Salvation Army and the Waltham Food Pantry); attending plays, museums, taking adult education courses, becoming a self-advocate, and planning vacations to new and exciting places.  The Waltham Committee Advocates Group, meet on a regular basis to discuss human rights issues, problem sove daily concerns, talk about safety issues at home and in the community and plan vacations.

Objectives are generally successfully met over a period of time.  The process for teaching/learning and the progress of each Individual is monitored and reviewed by WCI staff and other members of the team on a regularly scheduled basis.  The most common methods for reviewing the progress of Individuals include data collection, progress notes, and ISP or Team Meetings.

Once the Individual has demonstrated competency and met the criteria for advancement in specific areas of need, they can generalize and expand their new skills to similar areas that require the same kind of skills.  Additionally, through personal growth and accomplishments, Individuals are able to live or move to a less restrictive environment.  This could mean something as minimal as changing the staffing pattern from an awake overnight staff to a home with an asleep overnight staff to a more intricate situation, such as reducing the staffing pattern in the home to less than 24-hour supports or a move to another home with less than 24-hour supports.

In Individual Supports (less than 24 Hour Supports), there is also an Emergency On Call System that is in place for people to access.  Each Individual is trained to access staff and the Emergency Beeper System should they need assistance.

Many of our Individuals need a significant amount of support as well.  The type and amount of support depends on an Individual's needs.

The major goal for next year is to continue to empower Individuals to make choices, and to continue to provide support in maintaining and developing new skills especially in the area of nutrition and exercise.