WORCESTER COUNTY DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER

The Food Sevices Program provides employment training and community integration for disabled employees. Currently WCDC is networking with a private school and school lunches are prepared and served by WCDC disabled employees. The focus of this program is to train individuals in food service and to encourage and support them as they seek additional employment opportunities in the food service industry. WCDC seeks partnerships/contracts with other schools and agencies that are in need of this type of service in order to acomplish the following:

To provide training and opportunity for productive work in a real life setting for adults with disabilities

To educate and integrate the disabled population to their communities

To provide a service as a member of the community

WCDC's Residential Program operates a variety of homes within surrounding neighborhoods and communities. Supports for each residence are individualized and range from as needed in-home assistance to 24-hour supervision. The Residential Program recognizes and encourages persons with developmental disabilities to have options, skills and choices regarding where and with whom they live with in the community.

The Supported Employment Program provides individuals the assistance to find and maintain employment in the community. Services include career assessments, pre-employment training, and job placement through the WCDC Job Club. Job coaching support is provided with a job coach working beside the trainee as needed. As the trainee becomes more skilled, the job coach gradually decreases support. To become a self-sufficent worker is the goal of every supported employment individual. Help is always available to the worker and employer, as the Center never loses touch with the individual.

Individual Support Services (ISS) provides flexible and dynamic assistance to individuals in order to enable participation within the community and adapts to meet the individual's current needs. Support Services include, but not limited to, monetary assistance, transportation, grocery shopping, job coaching, budgeting, counseling, and assistance with other daily activities, development of relationships, respite and participation in social activities. Support Services are identified within the individual's program.