March is national Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “Worlds Imagined,” recognizing our changing world and exploring new opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through innovation. Throughout the month, Venture Together will spotlight new and evolving programs we’ve created to bring inclusive and joyful experiences to the people we support.
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- Venture Together’s new North Campus Tech Lab
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- “Dash” helps teach robotics
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- Interactive sound/light board
In February, we opened the North Tech Center at our Stony Point campus, a state-of-the-art technology center designed for fun and education. Along with iPads and desktop computers (used to play games and to teach basic computer and internet skills), we have a jumbo touch screen computer, an interactive floor projector (the light-up disco dance floor is amazing), and various touch-enabled music and light experiences. We also have a number of robotics kits, including “Dash,” an adorable little fella who helps teach basic coding as he sings and dances.
This week in honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and this year’s theme of “World’s Imagined,” Venture Together is pleased to present Venture U, an exciting new concept in day programming.
Venture U caters to young adults who have recently graduated from high school, and are looking for a small, individualized, curriculum-based program that will help them learn the skills to move them forward into the next phase of their lives.
Currently based out of Venture Center in Sparkill, the program is structured much like any college or university experience. Class modules follow set schedules (with plenty of time for fun and socializing) that are designed to teach participants important skills and concepts.
Modules include pre-vocational and life skills, technology classes, community outings, physical fitness, and music, the arts, and more.
For our final installment in our series honoring Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month—and this year’s theme of “World’s Imagined”— we present VentureWorks, our pre-vocational job readiness program.
Navigating the world of work is tricky for any new graduate; VentureWorks provides young people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities the knowledge and skills they’ll need to find fulfilling jobs in the community.
The students spend their mornings in the classroom learning soft skills (how to interact with co-workers, how to focus on tasks, job safety, etc.) through multimedia presentations, skills labs, games, and role play. In the afternoons, they go out to actual job sites to put those newly learned skills to work in a practical setting.
Venture Together’s VentureWorks tailors the curriculum to each individual’s needs and abilities, with the goal of providing them everything they need enter the world of competitive employment.
