COMMUNITY INTEGRATION - We Are the Community
Above all else, Rutledge provides individuals with a place to BELONG. We are all wired for belonging and often people with disabilities lose that connection when they age out of school. The individuals served by Rutledge share true friendships, acceptance, kinship and together they have a more meaningful life. #BetterTogether
Rutledge Center’s programming offers a structured framework for lifelong learning for adults with developmental disabilities. Community Access activities support individuals to learn and retain the knowledge, skills and abilities they need to build relationships and to be active, contributing community members. To achieve the mission of “creating opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate fully in the community" we focus on the basics of living a full and meaningful life with ongoing opportunities for community engagement. These opportunities may occur on-site or in locations throughout our community. We offer two distinct community integration models: Community Access Group (CAG - 1:10 staff to client ratio) and Community Access Individual (CAI 1:1 staff to client ratio). Rutledge Center’s philosophy is “person-centered” and we wholeheartedly strive to ensure that each individual is engaged in activities that are important to and important for the person served. Community integration is facilitated by a dedicated staff who has received extensive training to meet the health and safety needs of people receiving supports while engaging in activities of value and interest.
As part of Community Integration, a person may participate in a variety of community life experiences or interactions that may include, but are not limited to:
- Leisure or recreational activities
- Communication skill building activities
- Spiritual Connections
- Cultural Experiences
- Pre-vocational learning
- Vocational exploration
- Volunteerism in the community
- Fitness, Health and Wellness exercises
- Independent Living skills
- Personal Development and Advocacy
