LIFE, Inc. Family and Children’s Services Program   What does LIFE, Inc.’s Family and Children’s Services Program intend to accomplish? Living Independently Forever, Inc. provides center-, home-, and community-based developmental therapy program for children, ages 3 – 17 years. Our Family and Children’s Services Program functions to provide children living with developmental disAbilities the opportunity to experience quality training and developmental growth in a variety of settings, which promote community inclusion and participation, relationship building with peers, and positive social behaviors…while taking part in fun and enjoyable activities. Services are also geared toward meeting specific needs of families, as we understand the ability to access needed services support families to function in the most positive, productive manner possible. What is Developmental Therapy? Developmental therapy consists of intensive skills training to assist children to improve functional skill level in a variety of areas, achieve independence, and increase abilities related to self-help skills, mobility, learning, receptive and expressive language, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency, as well as, decrease maladaptive behaviors. What is Home-Based developmental therapy? Home-Based developmental therapy assists the child to achieve goals in the home-based setting by assisting the child to learn skills related to dressing, hygiene and grooming, bathing, toileting, basic meal preparation, and attending to basic household maintenance tasks and responsibility for personal belongings. What is Center-Based developmental therapy? Center-Based developmental therapy assists the child to develop functional skills in a safe, controlled environment; skills which will be utilized in a variety of settings outside of the center-based setting. Center-Based supports assist the child to access and meet goals in the school and community settings, by assisting the child to remain on task, follow directions, follow routines and schedules, request assistance and support as needed, and appropriately interact and form relationship with peers. What is Community-Based developmental therapy? Community-Based developmental therapy assists the child to achieve goals in the community, by promoting personal safety skills, appropriate interactions and relationships with peers in the community setting, eating in public locales, accessing transportation, increasing shopping and social skills, and identifying strangers versus helpers. Can my child access each type of developmental therapy (i.e. home-, community-, center-based)? YES! The type and amount of developmental therapy services and supports your child can access are determined by assessment and evaluation, as well as, person-centered planning meetings, which include the child, parents, family, natural supports, service coordinator(s), LIFE, Inc. professional staff, etc. Your child may access a combination of home-, community-, and center-based services and supports up to twenty-two (22) hours per week. What if I only want my child to access one type of developmental therapy…is this possible? YES! If you feel your child would benefit from only center-based developmental therapy or home-based developmental therapy… a specific program, which is geared to meet your child’s individualized need will be developed to achieve those goals. Does my child qualify for developmental therapy services and supports? To qualify for developmental therapy services and supports, the individual must suffer from a developmental disAbility defined as (1) an impairment such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, or other condition found to be closely related or similar to one of these impairments that requires similar treatment or services; or, is attributable to dyslexia resulting from impairments that are (2) expected to continue indefinitely; and, (3) constitute a substantial handicap to such person’s ability to function normally in society. Would LIFE, Inc. provide transportation to and from program? It depends. The response depends on several factors, including the parent, guardian, or families ability to transport the child; specific distance and location; and, pick-up and drop-off times. During the initial intake meeting, the LIFE, Inc. professional will discuss these questions with you to determine the possibility. Who would work with my child? A Developmental Technician would work directly with your child to address developmental therapy programming. The Developmental Technician is supported, supervised, and monitored by a LIFE, Inc. Developmental Specialist. A Developmental Specialist is a degreed individual with experience in assessing, evaluating, designing, implementing, and overseeing developmental therapy programming. The Developmental Specialist would be accessible to you to meet, discuss program changes, and provide additional support and information, as needed. All LIFE, Inc. employees complete self-declaration forms and criminal history background checks through the Department of Health and Welfare prior to initiating employment.